By Howard Packowitz
NORMAL – A consultant studying Unit 5’s transportation problems will explore if the school district is better off operating its own bus system, instead of paying a company millions of dollars a year to run the service.
The school board on September 25 directed administrators to start the process of putting the transportation contract up for bid in time for the next school year instead of extending Unit 5’s contract with current provider, First Student.
A work plan developed by the South Carolina-based firm School Bus Consultants includes coming up with cost estimates for each of the elements necessary for Unit 5 to develop and operate its own system.
The district is paying First Student $9.2 million dollars this year, according to Unit 5 Business Manager Marty Hickman. The company has been with the district for seven years.
Similar to the start of school in 2016, First Student was criticized again this school year for chronic problems including late buses, driver shortages, and poor communication.
First Student can apply for renewal of its contract, but Board President Barry Hitchins said last month the company might be at a competitive disadvantage because of its poor performance.
The district is paying the consulting firm $20,500 to perform a study, to be completed by the end of this year.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
