Nampa board approves First Student transportation contract after neighborhood outcry over possible bus site

The Nampa School District Board of Trustees voted to approve a transportation services contract with First Student after an extended discussion about the district’s fiscal constraints and widespread public opposition to staging buses near the former Sunny Ridge — now Union High — site.

Superintendent Dr. Russell told trustees the decision followed an RFP prompted by a steep price increase from the district’s incumbent provider. “We got a 24% increase. That was a $1.7 million above our budget,” he said, describing why staff went to bid and why the district could not accept a Brown Bus response that left material costs blank and was judged nonresponsive. The district said approving First Student kept the annual transportation cost within the $8 million line in its budget.

The board heard more than a dozen residents from the Sunny Ridge neighborhood during public comment. Jim McCracken, who said he represents the neighborhood adjacent to the site, warned that “operating a bus terminal would inflict a severe negative impact on the neighbors” — citing early-morning noise, diesel fumes, and potential impacts to private wells. Other residents described surprise at learning of district plans via media coverage rather than direct outreach and said a petition opposing the depot had gathered about 100 signatures.

“ We are not okay with it being an office either because our children play there and there’s a lot of new families,” one resident said, urging the district to disclose numbers and alternatives. Trustees repeatedly acknowledged those concerns and said the district had been conducting due diligence on permits, traffic, and staging options before committing to any permanent location.

Mr. Stauffer, who oversaw contract negotiations for the district, said temporary staffing and staging plans are in place while staff pursue long‑term sites. He told the board that buses are being staged for state inspections at South Middle School and that some First Student staff would use the Union site temporarily as an operations office; the district emphasized these were interim arrangements while it seeks a nonresidential long‑term facility.

Trustees also highlighted a parent‑facing technology rollout. The district plans to pilot a parent app with real‑time bus geo‑tracking and check‑in checkpoints; officials projected a broader rollout after initial pilot testing later in the school year.

After board discussion and confirmation that performance metrics and liquidated‑damages language appear in the RFP appendices, a trustee moved to approve the contract as presented. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote (the transcript records an “Aye” majority vote). Board members said routes and staging decisions would be published after final route development and board approval — the district signaled plans to begin publicizing routes and staging info around Aug. 1 and to bring any long‑term facility proposals back to the board for approval.

The district framed the contract decision as required by budget realities: officials said they had already trimmed staffing and closed underused facilities earlier in the budget process and that absorbing a 24% rise from the incumbent would have forced further cuts to classroom services.

The board’s approval ends the immediate procurement question but leaves unresolved neighbors’ calls for clearer, earlier outreach and for permanent bus facilities sited outside residential areas. Officials said they will continue to seek alternatives and engage the public as routing and staging decisions are finalized.