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Committee approves one‑year extension of transportation contract to lock in FY27 rates
Summary
The school committee voted to exercise the first one‑year extension option on the district’s transportation contract, approving rates described in the contract and noting the extension aligns with the FY27 transportation budget and reduces the risk of higher costs if re‑bid now.
The North Andover School Committee on April 7 approved a one‑year extension of the district’s multi‑year student transportation contract, a procedural step that preserves contractually scheduled rates for FY27 and aligns with the district’s FY27 budget.
Administration explained that the original contract (a three‑year agreement with two one‑year renewal options) includes automatic cost increases in later years; exercising the first extension locks the rates the district budgeted for next year. Staff said the transportation budget line for FY27 (including an additional bus added in the proposed FY27 budget) covers the extension and that re‑bidding now could expose the district to higher market costs.
Committee members asked operational questions about unit pricing and route design; administration and transportation staff explained the vendor provides unit pricing and the district and vendor jointly design routes using routing software (the district is also transitioning to upgraded software). Members also emphasized the need to continue monitoring routing efficiency.
Action taken: Committee voted to suspend rules and approved the first one‑year extension of the transportation contract (year four of the original contract), unanimously.
Implementation: Transportation staff will proceed with scheduling, route planning and vendor coordination for the coming school year under the extended contract rates.
