Board approves feeder mileage program and FFA national travel; discusses bus driver retention

At its Sept. 17 meeting the Moriarty‑Edgewood School District Board approved several routine action items and discussed personnel challenges affecting transportation.

The board approved consent agenda items, including revenue and expenditure reports and fixed‑asset listings, by voice vote. The administration said audit materials are being sent to auditors and the finance committee will meet monthly during the audit period.

On a motion presented by administration, the board approved the 2024–25 per‑capita feeder program, which reimburses families for mileage when students cannot access district bus routes or live in remote locations. The administration said the per‑capita program also covers some students with special education transportation needs. The motion passed by voice vote; no individual vote tallies were recorded in the transcript.

The board also approved out‑of‑state travel for four FFA students to the national competition in Indianapolis, Indiana, Oct. 22–25. Administrators said three seniors will travel to receive American degrees and one student will compete for an American Star Award. The motion passed by voice vote.

During the personnel report, Dr. Buckley and board members discussed bus driver recruitment and retention. Dr. Buckley said the district invests in training but sometimes loses drivers shortly after certification; options discussed included raising pay or creating professional‑development agreements that tie training to service commitments. The board directed administration to research retention policies and district practices in peer districts.

The meeting adjourned after the board set plans for a fall regional meeting and upcoming work sessions on strategic‑plan monitoring.