Rutherford County School Board weighs buying buses to shore up special‑education routes amid contractor disruption

The Rutherford County School Board on March 3 debated whether to supplement private contractors by purchasing district buses to cover hard‑to‑fill routes, particularly special‑education routes, after a recent contractor transition left several routes open.

Transportation staff told the board that 41 routes exist countywide and about five remained unclaimed after a contractor reorganization; seven drivers who transitioned from Ursa Major Logistics have secured private insurance and bus leases for specific bus numbers. "We have 5 open routes right now," transportation staff said, and the district will run an 'all call' process to allow qualified contractors to claim routes; if multiple contractors request the same route, a random selection process will be used.

Director‑level staff framed a possible hybrid approach that would purchase between five and ten buses to supplement contractors and to prioritize SPED routes, which the staff described as the hardest to fill. "My first thought would be special education," the presenter said, noting that SPED routes often require bus aides and are student‑specific and therefore less flexible for contractors to cover.

Board members pressed operational and policy details: whether contractors could access district‑owned spare buses in emergencies (staff: contracts and insurance would require explicit terms), how purchases would be funded (staff: several procurement and funding steps, including county purchasing rules and potential use of fund 177, would be required), and whether buying used buses would save money versus new buses with warranties. Staff gave sample quotes: new SPED buses at about $137,000 each and a new 90‑passenger Mid‑South bus at roughly $185,000; used buses were available but carry tradeoffs on warranties and maintenance.

Several board members urged caution and recommended giving existing contractors first opportunity to pick up routes during the upcoming 'all call.' One trustee said the district should avoid putting long‑term contractors out of business and urged a stepwise approach: "I'd rather see our contractors who have serviced us for so many years have first opportunity," the member said. Others argued for buying a limited number of buses now as insurance against service gaps and for staffing SPED buses with district employees to improve reliability.

Staff warned of legal and fiscal constraints tied to insurance and employee benefits: returning to county insurance or changing insurance pools could affect retiree benefits and requires employee votes and legal review. They also noted the procurement timeline and recommended more information before a final decision.

The board planned to take up a formal vote on the hybrid‑purchase proposal at the Thursday meeting, with staff saying they will bring numbers on remaining open routes, cost estimates, and recommended financing. For now the discussion resulted in directed follow‑up: firmer counts of open routes, finalized price quotes, and draft contract language outlining emergency access and liability terms.