Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lebanon City Schools says route changes saved roughly $214,000 so far but driver shortages threaten service
Summary
The district reported route and scheduling changes have generated greater-than-expected transportation savings but left three routes unfilled; officials said they may buy vans or shift capital to avoid canceled trips and will bring budget proposals to the board.
The Lebanon City Schools superintendent told the board on Dec. 16 that transportation changes implemented this school year — 15-minute start-time shifts, creation of group bus stops for some students and removal of six routes — have produced larger savings than initially estimated, but the district is now short of drivers.
"We thought we could save $93,000 in private transportation. We were actually able to save $124,000," the superintendent said, and added that the district was "on track to save $214,000" as of December after six months of the changes. The superintendent also said some of the savings reflect fuel and benefit reductions and that several numbers remain estimates until the district completes a full maintenance cycle.
Board members heard that three routes remain vacant and substitutes are scarce, leaving office staff and transportation administrators driving buses more frequently. "We're not in a position where we have to do it right now, but our office staff ... are driving a bus almost every single day," the superintendent said, warning that continued shortages could force cancellations or other operational changes.
Officials discussed short-term options to avoid canceled trips, including redeploying savings into purchasing one or two vans for small-group transport or using vans to free up bus drivers for larger routes. A board member noted Ohio law allows a trained driver to use a 9-passenger van without a CDL, and the superintendent said the treasurer and business-manager relationship will bring concrete budget proposals back to the board in the coming months.
The district also noted benefits from a recent fleet modernization: newer buses still under warranty reduced maintenance costs in the first year. The administration said the long-term capital plan will consider reinvesting transportation savings into special-education buses with lifts and other needs to avoid a future spike in replacement costs.
Next steps: the administration will return with cost estimates and bids if it pursues vans and will continue monitoring route vacancies and substitute availability under Ohio law.
