Taxi trips raise questions for District 214

Before every meeting, District 214 board members look over a list of district expenditures.

One cost - for taxi trips - caught the eye of board member Leslie Pinney. Northwest Suburban High School District 214 spends about $1 million on taxi trips per year. The district uses drivers from two taxi companies and doesn't use the competitive bid process.

Superintendent David Schuler defended the cost and not using the bid process at Thursday's board meeting.

"The vast majority or about 95 percent of the rides are for special ed and vocational students," he said. "We don't believe going to bid would be cost effective at this time. First, we don't believe one company could handle our entire account. We are also charged per trip. Under a contract we would have to pay for trips that don't occur, for example, if a student is sick."

State funds reimburse District 214 for about 80 percent of the cost for the rides for special education and vocational students, Schuler said. So, in total, the district only spends about $250,000 on the rides after the reimbursements, he said.

Despite the reimbursement, Pinney said the taxi trips were worth looking into.

"I don't think the reimbursement is a reason not to look at this," she said. "Our taxpayers are still spending the money regardless of that fact we're being reimbursed. Our state is in great turmoil, too."

Pinney is running for re-election again in April along with board members Lenore Gonzales Bragaw, Miriam (Mimi) Cooper and James Perkins. Mark Hineman, a Mount Prospect resident is also running. There are four seats up or election.

Board member Bill Dussling agreed with Schuler's stance and pointed out the district holds annual training sessions for all drivers.

"I attended the training session in August along with about 50 drivers," Dussling said. "It's a mandated training session that covers accident prevention, where the stops are and safety procedures."

Taxi: State reimburses district for costs