Ajo Unified board approves IGA with Pima County for student transportation after questions on driver pay and hours

The Ajo Unified District governing board on a 4-0 vote approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Pima County School Superintendent's Office to provide operational control of transportation for students from unorganized territories to district schools.

The presenter told the board the IGA includes a termination clause, requires regular invoicing for reimbursement and is intended to reduce district maintenance and fuel costs by shifting some operational responsibilities to Pima County. "This is the best plan we have right now with Pima County," the presenter said while recommending board approval.

Board members pressed staff on how the change would affect bus drivers. A board member asked whether drivers would take a pay cut; the presenter said the drivers "are not gonna receive less what the hourly rate was with Pima County" and clarified that drivers working under the district would be scheduled according to the district's eight-hour daily workday. The presenter also said the district must follow Department of Labor rules on overtime and that scheduling details remain under development.

The presenter noted the district's carry-forward reserve "went down over 200,000," a change the board must navigate when planning staffing and service levels. The board recorded the approval of the IGA by voice vote: "All those in favor, say aye" and "Motion carries 4 to 0."

The agreement will be implemented with oversight from district finance staff, accounts payable and the assistant business manager, the presenter said. Board members requested that staff continue reporting to the board on implementation details, driver assignments and any budgetary impacts.

Next step: the district will finalize administrative implementation of the IGA and submit invoices for reimbursement as described by staff; the board will receive periodic updates as the arrangement is put into practice.