Board hears plan to lease buses and contract routing help as driver shortages and rising fuel costs squeeze operations

Trustees pressed administration on several transportation pressures baked into next year’s budget: higher fuel estimates, increased driver overtime, and driver shortages that have forced mechanics to cover routes at times.

Assistant Silva said the district will lease six large buses again next year and has also purchased smaller buses for other needs. The administration estimated roughly three unfilled bus‑driver positions and cited $225,000 spent on driver overtime in the current year; the 2026–27 draft increases driver‑overtime lines to cover late buses, special runs and emergency coverage. Silva said hiring an additional driver would reduce some overtime but would also add full‑time benefit costs, and that shortages have also forced mechanics to drive buses, which reduces repair capacity.

To address routing inefficiencies and the high‑school schedule change, the district contracted BOCES transportation specialists for routing and GPS integration; administration described the contract as an up‑front, aidable investment (about $14,000) to produce optimized routes and attendance/GPS data for long‑term savings. Trustees asked for a roster of budgeted vs. vacant driver positions, the ratio of leased buses to owned fleet, and the expected maintenance/parts savings from leasing.