Board of Education agrees to keep bus transportation contract

The+Board+meeting+agreed+to+keep+the+bus+transportation+contract+on+March+21.

Photo by Ariana Alcantar

The Board meeting agreed to keep the bus transportation contract on March 21.

By Ariana Alcantar, Editor in Chief

The Board of Education decided to keep the bus transportation contract for special needs student rather than break it during the board meeting on March 21.

“For years we have been partnering with SASED (a special education corporation) to provide special needs transportation,” president of the Board of Education Gary Saake said.

SASED is a corporation that helps schools with special ed students by providing the schools with necessary services like transportation.

The buses have special equipment for the students.

The district is currently in the second year of a three-year contract with Septran to provide special education busing services. This is a common contract with most of the SASED districts.  

The decision to break or keep the contract arose due to many issues.

“This year there have been many performance issues with Septran, mostly timing related,” Saake said.

Some of the members believe the contract is useless.

“This is the dumbest contract I have ever seen. How many kids are transported? Some of them can pay a taxi or an Uber. It can be cheaper,” board member Dirk Gunderson said.  

The Board of Education is looking to amend the existing Transportation Services Contract.

The board hopes SASED looks at other alternatives to improve their service before the contract ends. Otherwise, the board will look for another company.