District transportation update: staffing steady, ridership rising and bus air conditioning explored

Tracy, the district’s transportation representative, briefed the Fremont County School District #25 board on operational trends and an equipment proposal that could affect student comfort on long summer trips.

Tracy said the transportation department is fully staffed this year, including two substitute drivers, and reported an increase in ridership on some routes — “some of the buses that had 15 kids on it now have 50,” she said. She added the department has seen fewer on‑bus suspensions and fights this year compared with last.

The presentation flagged growing special education (SPED) transportation demand. As the district implements individualized education programs (IEPs), Tracy said more students are being flagged for transportation support and the board may need to consider purchasing an additional microbus depending on future enrollment and IEP placements.

Tracy also reviewed activity and field‑trip use so far this school year, reporting about 181 activity trips and 91 field trips to date and saying the district has run fewer trips than the previous year. The department continues to provide charter services for non‑district entities (examples named in the meeting included Moonriver Cares and local events) and has declined only one charter this year due to driver availability.

On equipment, Tracy reported she sought vendor references and quotes for roof‑mounted air conditioning units for activity buses. She described the units as low‑profile and compatible with the district’s garage clearances and said a vendor quote places the cost at “roughly around that 29,500 per bus.” She noted the evaporator layout would provide airflow front and back and that units are likely to be run on low settings to avoid overcooling passengers. Tracy said she had photographed installations and brought images to the board for context.

Board members asked follow‑up questions and thanked Tracy for the update. No formal procurement decision was made at the meeting; trustees who reacted to the estimate expressed interest in having more detailed cost and installation schedules before any vote.

The board moved on after the presentation; the transportation update was given as an informational briefing and no binding action on bus AC purchases occurred at this meeting.