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Board approves routing software purchase and shifts transportation in‑house after vendor briefing
Summary
After a contractor’s public comment and finance‑committee briefing, the Le Sueur‑Henderson board approved moving transportation in‑house, authorized vendor financing for vehicle purchases, and approved buying a basic routing software package that would sync with Infinite Campus.
The Le Sueur‑Henderson School District board unanimously approved steps on transportation policy Wednesday, voting to move transportation services in‑house, authorize vendor financing for new vehicles and approve purchase of routing software.
The actions followed a public comment from Joe Schiefer, a district transportation contractor, who thanked district staff and drivers and urged the board to consider existing contractors for future work. "We just had DOT inspections last week…they inspected the office and the files, which is new this year…sometimes it feels like they're trying to attack you," Schiefer said, and asked the board to "consider us for the next couple of years, 4 years, 10 years, whatever." The comment was heard during the public forum but did not affect the board's independent deliberations.
Finance committee members presented cost breakdowns and a proposal from the current transportation provider that included options for managing routing in‑house or via a hybrid model. The committee noted the routing software carries an upfront setup cost plus an annual subscription; members emphasized the software’s potential to integrate with Infinite Campus (Tyler Technologies) so student bus assignments can automatically update to drivers' tablets and allow estimated time‑of‑arrival notifications for families.
Board members also discussed vehicle purchase financing. A vendor offered eight‑year financing terms that committee members said were more favorable than local bank options; the board approved proceeding with the vendor’s terms while asking the finance committee to continue evaluating five‑ versus eight‑year plans.
On a related motion the board approved buying a basic package of the routing software and authorized staff to move forward with setup only if the solution met integration needs. Supporters said the tools could improve route efficiency and reduce risky stops on unpaved roads by rerouting buses to paved surfaces when conditions warrant.
The board approved the transportation changes and related purchases by voice vote, with all members voting in favor. The finance committee will continue follow‑up on contract details, subscription costs and integration testing before committing to larger feature sets.
