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CUSD 300 recommends bus replacements and a one-year extension with Durham amid state reimbursement shortfall
Summary
Transportation director Deborah Mason recommended buying three 2026 activity buses for a net $310,968 (trade-in factored) and proposed a one-year contract extension with Durham for 2026–27 with a 3.85% rate increase; administrators noted an estimated $22.8 million total cost and an expected state return of $15.2 million, leaving a district net expense near $7.6 million.
Deborah Mason told the board the district released bids on Jan. 2 and received five responses to replace three activity buses the district owns. She said the administration recommends awarding the bus purchase to Southern Bus Mobility at a net price of $310,968; the buses are 2026 models and the purchase would be funded from the transportation fund (Fund 40) in fiscal 2027.
Mason also recommended a one-year extension of the district’s contract with Durham for the 2026–27 school year, noting a contract-rate increase of 3.85 percent tied to the Chicagoland consumer price index. She provided an estimate of $22.8 million in total transportation costs with an expected state claim return of $15.2 million, leaving the district with an estimated local expense of $7.6 million.
An administrator framed the item in the broader context of mandated categoricals and state underfunding: "We're currently about 60% — we're about 65¢ on the dollar," the administrator said, describing how transportation reimbursement shortfalls create multi-million-dollar local gaps the district must cover. Board members asked clarifying questions about vehicle years and contract terms; Mason confirmed the new activity buses are 2026 models and recommended approval of the extension based on Durham’s performance and recruitment efforts.
Next steps: the presentation and recommendation were recorded in the meeting transcript but no formal roll-call vote appears in the provided record. Funding and estimated reimbursements will be part of the district’s FY27 budget conversation.
