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Local business owner tells Raleigh County board his firm was suspended without explanation; asks for transparency
Summary
Jonathan Cruz, owner of School Bus Solutions, told the board officials told employees to stop using his services by email on May 5 and that, three months later, he still had not received an explanation of who made the decision or what policy supported it.
Jonathan Cruz, owner of School Bus Solutions and a lifelong Raleigh County resident, told the board he was directed by a May 5 email to stop providing services to the school system without explanation and has received no follow‑up in nearly three months.
"The email instructed employees to stop using School Bus Solutions immediately until, quote, an issue was resolved," Cruz said. He told the board he contacted the superintendent, transportation director and purchasing director and requested documentation and a meeting but has not received substantive answers.
Cruz framed his remarks as a transparency and accountability concern, saying his company has provided services to schools and local governments for more than eight years and that the absence of explanation undermines public confidence. "If a lifelong resident taxpayer, former employee, local business owner can spend months respectfully asking questions without receiving clear answers, what message does that send to everyone else?" he asked.
Board and administration discussion later in the meeting addressed a website redesign and public access to board materials, but the transcript does not record a direct administrative response to Cruz’s procurement allegation during this session. Administration representatives described a new family portal and live enrollment button on the Raleigh County Schools website and invited suggestions for content; they did not provide a contemporaneous explanation of procurement or contract actions referenced by Cruz.
Cruz asked the board to provide specific answers: who made the decision, what policy supported it, how to resolve any issue, and when it would be resolved. The transcript records his questions but shows no resolution at the July 28 meeting.
