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Webster Groves board approves midyear budget adjustment and awards three‑year bus contract to First Student
Summary
Trustees approved the district's second midyear budget adjustment — which includes a $64,000 cybersecurity grant, small net transfers and a projected year-end fund balance around 51% — and voted to award a three-year transportation contract to First Student, citing estimated savings versus other bids.
The Webster Groves School Board approved a midyear budget adjustment and finalized a three-year student transportation contract at its regular meeting.
District staff presented the second 2526 budget adjustment, describing a $64,000 cybersecurity technology grant that the district must both spend and receive and several internal transfers to fund technology maintenance and capital projects. "Our revenue adjustments we're bringing to you tonight, it's a $64,000 increase," Mr. Myers said. Staff reported a net $54,000 increase in expenses tied to the grant and transfers and a continuing operating deficit of about $1.9 million, most of which is related to ongoing Prop S bond expenditures; projected year-end fund balance was presented at 51.3%.
Trustees moved and seconded the budget adjustment and approved it by voice vote.
On procurement, staff reviewed bids for three-year transportation services and recommended renewing with incumbent First Student. The district received three bids; First Student's price was presented as roughly $417.26 per day per route, compared with bids as high as about $725 per day per route. Staff said the price difference could amount to roughly $700,000 per year between the lowest and highest bidders. "Looking over a three-year period, the price difference between the first bidder and the last bidder is about $700,000 per year," Mr. Myers said. The district estimated annual transportation expense under the contract at about $932,000 (current estimated cost for the year: $886,000).
The board approved the recommendation to award transportation services to First Student by voice vote.
Additional business: the consent agenda was passed by acclamation. The board then moved to recess into executive session; a roll call was conducted to begin the closed session.
Provenance: budget adjustment presentation began at SEG 666 and continued through the motion and vote at SEG 782–790; transportation bid presentation and contract approval spanned SEG 791–937.
