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Board discusses bus conduct protocols and a proposed boost to field‑trip pay to recruit drivers
Summary
At a Coffee County Schools meeting board members and transportation supervisor Tim Morris reviewed bus discipline practices, asked Morris to draft policy language requiring documented interventions before long suspensions, and debated raising trip pay (models showed $23–$25/hour could attract drivers at a modest per‑student cost).
Coffee County Schools trustees spent a substantial portion of their meeting on transportation issues, focusing on student conduct on buses and ways to recruit and retain drivers for field trips and athletics.
Board members and Tim Morris, the district’s transportation supervisor, described an expanded use of video evidence and written "ride‑up" reports that have improved consistency in discipline. Members said they want the system’s approach documented in policy so principals, drivers and families follow the same steps. Several trustees urged adding a requirement that, when a student reaches repeated writeups, the record show a counseling referral or documented intervention so the district can address root causes before permanently removing a student from bus service. The board asked Mr. Morris to draft suggested language for the policy committee.
The discussion moved to driver recruitment and compensation for trips. Staff presented a side‑by‑side comparison of the current trip pay scale (group pay and a $1 per mile charge) and proposed rates up to $25–$26 per hour. Officials outlined benefit costs (staff estimated benefits add roughly $14 per hour in value) and modeled per‑student impacts: for a typical load the increase from the current effective rate to $25 per hour equated to roughly $0.41–$0.74 more per student depending on load and trip length. Trustees weighed several options: raising the hourly trip rate, creating dedicated after‑hours drivers for athletics, or using a mix of modest rate increases and targeted recruitment. Board members emphasized avoiding sudden changes that would price out booster clubs or drive fundraising burdens onto families; staff offered to return with detailed spreadsheets and recommended cost scenarios.
No formal vote was taken. Trustees directed staff to (1) bring draft policy language on discipline and required interventions, (2) provide a spreadsheet showing the fiscal impact of different trip pay rates and their effects on booster/athletics budgets, and (3) consider forming a transportation committee to refine recommendations and recruitment tactics. The board emphasized prioritizing student safety while balancing costs to parent groups and the district.
