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Craven County Schools tables proposed transportation mileage increases after public pushback
Summary
After public comment and board questioning, the board voted to table a proposal to raise activity‑bus rates to $2.50/mile and yellow‑bus extracurricular rates to $3.33/mile for 2026–27; the transportation director cited rising fuel and parts costs.
The Craven County Schools Board of Education on Tuesday tabled a proposal from the district’s transportation director to increase mileage rates for extracurricular and activity buses for the 2026–27 school year.
Transportation Director Jermaine Smith told the board the proposal was a cost-alignment request, not a revenue-generating measure, aimed at preventing deficit spending by the transportation department. He described the district’s fleet (141 state-funded yellow buses and 33 locally funded activity buses), said daily fuel prices were volatile (citing about $4.26 per gallon that day) and proposed raising activity-bus rates from $1.00 to $2.50 per mile and the yellow-bus extracurricular rate from $2.30 to $3.33 per mile.
Public comment prior to the discussion included a detailed objection from parent Jonathan Davis, who said higher mileage rates would “place an unreasonable burden” on students, booster clubs and schools, leading to canceled field trips, fewer extracurricular opportunities and a reduction in participation for rural and lower-income communities.
Board members pressed for more comparative data with neighboring districts and questioned whether the proposed increases scaled directly from fuel-price changes. Several members expressed concern about the effect on student programs and suggested tabling the proposal until the board has more budget clarity from county commissioners. A motion to table the rate proposal to the next meeting passed.
What happens next: Transportation staff will return with additional cost options and comparisons at the next board meeting; the proposal remains under consideration pending further analysis and budget information.
Provenance: Presentation and Q&A recorded in the board work session (topic introduction: SEG 1427; topic finish: SEG 1689).
