Windsor Locks will negotiate with Smyth Bus Company; board forgoes RFP amid projected rate increases

The Windsor Locks Board of Education on Feb. 22 unanimously agreed not to issue a request for proposals for student transportation and instead to negotiate a three‑year contract with the district's current vendor, Smyth Bus Company, with a two‑year renewal option.

Allison Pierce, the district's director of finance and operations, told the board the current contract cost per bus per day is $385–$425, which she said is 15–27% lower than regional competitors. Pierce cited projected inflationary pressures — including a possible 15–30% increase attributable to market trends, a 30% insurance increase, and 10–15% higher fuel costs — and presented a consultant review (MJK Transportation Consultants) that recommended the incumbent as favorable. Based on that analysis, she recommended negotiating with the current provider rather than spending time and resources on an RFP process.

The board moved (Gragnolati), seconded (Osorio) and passed the motion unanimously to proceed with negotiation rather than initiating an RFP.

What it means: the district expects transportation costs to rise, but the board concluded the incumbent's current rates and the consultant's assessment made negotiation the preferred option. The minutes do not include a projected dollar total for a renewed contract or an executed contract document; they record the board's authorization to negotiate.

Next steps: staff will proceed with negotiations; the minutes do not set a timeline for contract finalization or identify required town approvals.