District 26 may outsource busing

The Cary Elementary District 26 transportation department may be the next area to feel the effects of the district's recurring budget deficit.

In an effort to balance the district's budget and get off the state's financial watch list, the District 26 school board is considering outsourcing transportation.

Because the bids have not come back yet, no estimate is available on how much the district could save by hiring a company to bus the district's students.

But in a way, the proposal has already generated savings by prompting transportation employees to offer concessions in a bid to save their jobs.

Among those concessions is a 5-percent pay cut for transportation workers and reduced spending on supplies, according to the district. The concessions would save the district an estimated $190,000 out of a transportation budget of about $1.5 million, officials said.

"We're very pleased that our employees have stepped forward in order to assist the district in our financial issues," Superintendent Brian Coleman said.

The district employs between 35 and 40 bus drivers who transport close to 3,000 students each year. A number of drivers and their supporters spoke out against outsourcing at an April 26 public hearing.

Board members have not responded to the transportation department's offer but will compare the savings from the concessions to the bids they expect to receive in the next month.

"If someone comes in with significant savings over what the transportation department offers, we have something to think about," Finance Committee Chairman Chris Jenner said.

Facing a deficit that otherwise was expected to grow to $6.6 million next year, the board voted earlier this year to lay off about 80 teachers, close Maplewood School and outsource its custodial department.

The custodial outsourcing will save an estimated $193,000, or about 20 percent of what it now costs the district to clean its schools.

Coleman plans to make a recommendation to the board on outsourcing transportation in late June. If the board decides to hire a company to bus kids, the change would take effect in the fall.