Hinckley-Finlayson board approves contract to outsource pupil transportation to 4.0

The Hinckley-Finlayson School District board approved a contract on a 6–1 roll-call vote to shift the district’s pupil transportation operations to 4.0, a private pupil-transportation company, with the arrangement to take effect July 1, 2026.

The vote followed extended public comment and a lengthy board discussion that weighed projected annual savings — administration and board members cited an estimated $370,000 in recurring savings — against concerns about losing in-house capacity and local control over buses and maintenance.

At open forum, a district bus driver identified as Bob warned of the social costs of privatization: “If the busing service is not ran by the school district, the problems or issues would not be addressed by people familiar with the students,” he said, arguing that drivers’ relationships with families and knowledge of routes matter for student safety and continuity.

Board members who supported the contract said the move responds to long-running operational strains, including difficulty hiring a mechanic and limited capacity for substitute drivers. A board member who supported the change said 4.0 offered experience, maintenance capacity and driver support that the district has struggled to sustain, and noted that neighboring districts that use 4.0 reported smooth transitions.

A 4.0 representative told the board the company partners with districts and aims to work collaboratively: “We partner with the school districts we serve and we’re very conscious of the budgets,” the representative said, adding that 4.0 seeks long-term partnerships and typically negotiates modest annual adjustments in line with inflation.

Opponents urged more community engagement before a final decision. A board member who opposed contracting said the scale of the transaction — described in discussion as nearly a $34 million transaction in total asset/lease terms — merited more public input and a special forum for taxpayers. The board found prior public meetings and driver briefings sufficient and proceeded to a roll-call vote: Leo yes; Janelle yes; Jamie yes; Dave yes; Heather yes; Angela yes; Toby no.

The contract, vetted by attorneys for both the district and 4.0, includes provisions governing fleet purchase/leasing schedules, driver transition options and operational responsibilities. Administration said many transportation staff were given the opportunity to meet with 4.0 and that drivers who choose to stay with 4.0 would be able to keep established routes where feasible. The board also approved related financial and personnel housekeeping measures in the same meeting, including a one-time payout to transportation staff for accrued ESST and vacation time.

Next steps: district and 4.0 attorneys have the contracts prepared for signature; administration said contracts can be signed at the meeting or shortly afterward, and the transition planning will continue over the summer to minimize disruption for routes beginning in the fall.