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North Santiam SD 29J board approves five-year student-transportation contract and adopts two policies
Summary
At its Sept. 13, 2024 meeting, the North Santiam SD 29J board approved a five-year renewal with Mid Columbia (Midco) for student transportation, adopted policies on criminal records checks and compulsory attendance, and passed routine consent items.
The North Santiam SD 29J Board of Directors approved a five-year student-transportation contract with Mid Columbia (Midco) and adopted two policy updates at its Sept. 13, 2024 regular meeting.
Superintendent Loving told the board staff negotiated a renewal with Midco that fits the district's budget assumptions and can be renewed without a formal RFP under the district's special-procurement policy (DJC). Loving said the district "did quite a bit of research with other districts" and concluded that Midco offered competitive pricing and better service. Coral moved to approve the contract, a motion that was seconded and passed by voice vote.
Board members asked for protections in the contract should service decline and for clarity on route length and fuel-escalator clauses. Loving said the contract includes language that allows the district to "come back to the table" and that the district can opt out if necessary. The board recorded the motion as approved by voice vote.
On policy matters, the board adopted a consolidated replacement for GCDA/GDDA (criminal records checks and fingerprinting) on second reading after brief discussion and a unanimous voice vote. The board also approved draft 2 of JEA (compulsory attendance) on second reading after a short recess to review changes; the policy's revised language removes obsolete citation instructions and clarifies absence counting (half-day threshold and an '8 or more in 4 weeks' standard derived from state statute).
Routine business — including approval of meeting minutes and new hires on the consent agenda — passed without objection.
What happens next: The transportation contract will be executed by district staff. Policy updates that were adopted take effect according to district process; other first-reading policies (including procurement-related DJC and DJCA updates) return to the board in a later meeting for further consideration.
Quotes: "We did quite a bit of research," Superintendent Loving said of the transportation negotiation. "We can come back to the table at any time we want to," he added when asked about recourse if service degrades.
Context: District staff said the transportation renewal reflects a multi-year approach to fleet replacement and service continuity; the contract term cited in the motion covers July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2029.
