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School board moves to clear contested bus‑infraction backlog and seek written sheriff agreement
Summary
After an audit of the vendor‑run bus infraction detection system, the committee asked staff to negotiate a DOA adjudication pathway, push for a tougher vendor agreement and seek an interlocal agreement with the Miami‑Dade Sheriff’s Office; staff said about 8,000 citations are contested and roughly 43,000 are incurred but unadjudicated.
Board Member Danny Espino presented H15, asking staff to negotiate a memorandum of understanding with the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOA) to adjudicate contested bus‑infraction cases and to return with a revised vendor agreement that includes audit and transparency rights, most‑favored‑nation protections and vendor funding for hearing support. “We have to ensure due process and legal sufficiency before we restart the program,” Espino said.
Dr. Gallon, the board’s ABAC representative, urged explicit notification procedures and timetables. He noted the audit found thousands of citations that were not properly processed and recommended any new agreement incorporate the audit’s findings. “We must reconcile the formal notification process for contested tickets and bring back language and a date certain,” he said.
Superintendent (unnamed in the transcript) told the committee he accepts responsibility for a communications gap with the sheriff’s office and that staff will secure a written interlocal agreement before reactivation. “I own this 100%,” he said, adding that staff will work with the sheriff and the vendor to resolve outstanding issues.
Audit and operations staff said the inventory is large: roughly 8,000 citations are currently contested and await adjudication; approximately 43,000 additional violations appear to be incurred but have not been adjudicated or paid and may be time‑barred in many cases. Mr. Goodman, who led the audit briefing, said most of the 43,000 “probably lapsed” under statute of limitations but legal review is needed to confirm.
The committee approved amended language directing staff to: (1) negotiate a DOA adjudication pathway for all contested cases, (2) negotiate a revised vendor agreement with improved financial terms and compliance safeguards, and (3) pursue a written interlocal agreement with the Miami‑Dade Sheriff’s Office, using best efforts to report back within 30 days. The motion emphasized that reactivation of the system will not occur without established due‑process and sheriff assurances.
Next steps: staff will return with the DOA/ILA status, any proposed contract amendments, and a report on the outstanding citation inventories for the board’s next fiscal‑government meeting.
