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School board approves use of district vehicles for upcoming Discovery 21 trip after charter buses proved unaffordable
Summary
After parents raised safety and transparency concerns, the Ottumwa Comm School District board approved temporary use of district vans and SUVs for student travel while staff searches for charter alternatives and funding options.
The Ottumwa Comm School District board on Thursday approved a resolution allowing district vans and SUVs to be used for student educational trips through the 2025–26 school year after leaders said charter buses proved financially unworkable for the upcoming Discovery 21 trip.
Parent Taryn Ferguson told the board she was alarmed to learn only days before the trip that students would be transported in vans and Suburbans rather than a charter bus included in the trip materials. "What is this for? This is all for the enhanced safety of their passengers," Ferguson said, arguing professional charter drivers provide logs, physicals and vehicle inspections that volunteers and chaperones do not.
District staff said the travel program is a separate, stand‑alone organization that experienced leadership turnover. Maria (last name not specified) told the board the Discovery 21 trip currently has 45 students signed up and that the charter cost quoted earlier would be about $20,000 per bus. Staff estimated the total cost of running Discovery 21 without charters is roughly $50,000; using vans and additional drivers and hotels increases transportation labor and lodging costs by an estimated $8,000 or more.
Board members and staff discussed options for bridging the funding gap, including searching for inactive student activity accounts, targeted fundraising and donor support. "We can't take it out of the general budget or designated student activity funds," the superintendent said, noting legal restrictions on certain funds. Staff agreed to examine inactive student activity accounts and other options and to keep families updated; anyone uncomfortable sending a child on the modified trip would be eligible for a full refund if they opt out by the specified deadline.
A motion to approve the district's temporary use of vehicles — made on the floor and seconded — passed by voice vote. The board directed staff to continue pursuing a charter solution where feasible and to return with any options for covering the shortfall.
The board took the action at the meeting after public comment and extended discussion; the resolution applies to trip vehicle use through 2025–26 and does not by itself commit the district to use vans if other funding or charter options are found.
