WALES — School board members are expected to take a second look at allowing a private firm to operate the public school buses in Litchfield, Sabattus and Wales.
The board, which meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Oak Hill High School, voted by a narrow margin last month to privatize the busing contract; but concerns raised by residents have the board reconsidering the move.
Some residents have been vocal about their desire to see the busing, and the drivers, kept in-house.
The move to outsource the driving — most likely to the lone bidder, Northeast Charter & Tour of Lewiston — has been estimated to save estimated about $233,000.
However, Jim Hodgkin, superintendent of Regional School Unit 4, said those savings would be reduced by the amount of any severance package negotiated with the district’s 22 drivers, all of whom have benefits.
Hodgkin expects bus company representatives to attend Wednesday’s meeting as well.
The school board discussed voting again on the bus issue at its last meeting, and Hodgkin said there was a question raised about how to do so properly. That matter has been clarified by the board’s attorney, who said the new vote can take place, he said.
Hodgkin said he intends to present three options to the school board members.
Privatizing the buses would put the proposed school budget 2.16 percent higher than the current year’s $17.2 million budget.
Keeping the bus operations in-house and restoring a social studies teaching position would put the budget 2.75 percent higher, and keeping the busing and not restoring the teaching post would put the budget 2.5 percent higher than the curret year.
All those scenarios fit under the district’s committment to cap the budget at 3 percent above the current year’s, he said.
The board is expected to finalize the 2012-2013 budget draft Wednesday and set a public vote for June 6 at Oak Hill High School.
Hodgkin said his recommendation remains unchanged. He wants the board to keep the busing in-house this year and consider it in next year’s budget. He also wants the social studies post restored.
That would mean the district would cut only 2 1/2 teaching jobs and two educational technician posts.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com
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