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Drivers and Teamsters urge scrutiny of low NRT school-bus bid as district finishes due diligence
Summary
At a Weymouth School Committee subcommittee meeting, First Student drivers and a Teamsters representative warned that an apparent low bid from NRT may be unrealistically priced and could risk daily driver shortages; district staff said the IFB opened April 15 and a notice of award is targeted for May 13 while due diligence continues.
Public comments at the Weymouth School Committee budget subcommittee meeting on May 6 focused on the district’s pending student-transportation contract and the apparent low bid from NRT.
"The bid submitted by NRT is unrealistically low," said Sula Bossier, a Weymouth bus driver for First Student, citing routing and late-bus costs she said were not reflected in the apparent low bid. She warned that the pricing appeared based on shorter route hours than drivers experience and that the practice of winning contracts with low, unsustainable bids has led to chronic staffing shortages elsewhere.
Michelle Makrovich, a representative of Teamsters Local 653, told the committee the town should require any new vendor to honor the existing Teamsters contract. "These drivers currently have a Teamsters contract … They are seasoned and established," Makrovich said, urging the committee to use the award process to protect wages, benefits and continuity of service.
A district staff member told the committee the invitation for bids opened April 15, described an apparent low bidder, and said the district is in a due-diligence phase with a planned notice of award by May 13. The staff member did not announce an award at the meeting and said staff will continue to review bidder responsibility before any decision.
The public commenters cited past local problems with the vendor named in public remarks, said some First Student drivers would not remain with a new vendor that did not guarantee existing contract protections, and urged the committee to require vendor commitments as part of any award.
The committee did not vote on the contract at the meeting. Staff acknowledged the public concerns and said they would factor responsibility and track record into the award process; staff also identified Faith Holland as the district’s transportation manager in attendance.
Next steps: staff said they will complete due diligence and are targeting May 13 for a notice of award. Committee members asked staff for clarifications, and the district said it will return with any requested details at a subsequent meeting.
