Hopatcong board votes to outsource student transportation and auction leased buses

The Hopatcong Borough School District Board of Education voted to auction off leased buses and accept bids from a private transportation contractor to run district routes, the board decided at its regular May meeting.

During the superintendent’s report the district explained that state aid reductions and rising personnel and health-care costs have eroded the district’s financial cushion. The superintendent said two special-education students who enrolled late last year required tuition at specialized private schools that cost "$126,000 for each child," a pressure the board cited in support of the changes. To address similar unexpected costs the district proposed selling most leased buses at auction and contracting out day-to-day student transportation. The superintendent said the district will keep two vehicles for wheelchair transport and occasional field trips.

The board placed two related addendum items before members: a resolution to sell leased vehicles at auction and a separate item to abolish bus-driver and bus-aide positions under the Sussex County Regional Cooperative so the district could accept bids from private providers. The superintendent identified Craft Bus as the lowest responsible bidder and said Craft Bus has offered jobs to district drivers "who wish to take them up on that offer." He also said Craft Bus would consider leasing one of the district’s parking lots behind the high school to generate additional revenue.

On the financial case, the superintendent gave a savings estimate: "worst case scenario, $375,000. Best case scenario, $425,000." He added that the cost of an extended-school-year program for special-education students (summer services) — which the superintendent estimated at about $60,000–$70,000 per year — is separate and not included in that estimate.

Board members asked questions about the estimate and the transition for staff. The board voted to approve the vehicle-auction resolution (motion by Miss ShraMM, seconded by Dr. Capella) and to move forward with the cooperative-position abolition and bid acceptance; both motions passed on roll call. Mr. Chaffy was absent; all attending trustees voted yes.

The superintendent characterized the actions as necessary to provide budget flexibility for unexpected high-cost placements and rising benefit expenses. The district did not announce an implementation timeline beyond accepting bids and retaining two vehicles for special-needs support and trips.