Busing costs going up in Arlington Heights District 25

The cost of getting students to and from school in Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 is going up over the next two years.

The district's contract with Arlington Heights-based Cook County School Bus will increase 5 percent for the 2018-2019 school year and 3 percent for the following school year under terms approved last week by the school board. That will mean a $20 fee increase - to $400 - for families that don't qualify for free transportation.

Stacey Mallek, the district's assistant superintendent for business, said the increases are attributed to a national school bus driver shortage and the company raising its starting hourly salary from $14 to $16 to remain competitive with another local company. Cook County School Bus also said it has faced insurance increases of 8 percent to 10 percent and it will have to replace older buses in its fleet.