In a presentation in a work session meeting April 5, Chandler said the transportation is looking to hire bus drivers, an assistant director, human resources manager, safety and security, a student discipline manager, driver trainers, maintenance, payroll, dispatcher, and field trip coordinators prior to the 2025-26 school year.
Current situation
Chandler will oversee the transition to an in-house model after using contracted services for the past 30 years, according to previous Community Impact reporting. The district's current contracted provider is Texas Central School Bus Services.
Chandler said LISD needs to hire 250 bus drivers and Texas Central School Bus Services is about 30 bus drivers down compared to expected staffing.
She said there have been six meetings already and as of May 5, 87 bus drivers and 30 bus monitors have applied for a position with LISD.
“It’s been a good start,” Chandler said. “So far, six days in, we’ve had a lot going on. It’s definitely been busy.“
She said some of the contract bus drivers with Texas Central have contracts until July 31, but hopes that LISD can hire many of those drivers.
“If they’re great, qualified folks and we want to keep them,” Chandler said.
The specifics
According to the presentation, bus service is provided for families that live two miles or more from their zoned campus, but bus service will be provided to families that live within a two-mile radius due to hazardous routes in the path of students walking.
There were 218 regular bus routes in the 2024-25 school year, with 92 hazardous routes.
There will be 91 such routes in the 2025-26 school year due to school closures. During a Dec. 9, 2024, meeting, the board voted to close five schools for the upcoming school year.
Many of the hazardous routes were determined if a student had to walk on railroad tracks or busy roads in Highland Village, Flower Mound, Carrollton, The Colony and Lewisville. All of the routes can be accessed here.
Zooming in
Jeffrey Kajs, chief student services officer, also said that hazardous routes could be added if a city does construction on a sidewalk or road project that would put students in harm walking on the street.
He added that crossing guards are paid for by cities that make up LISD and not the district.
“We’re starting to see maybe less crossing guards and more pedestrian-activated crossing areas,” he said. “It’s a cost measure, so as we evaluate these routes, we’re having to also consider that changes in our world now, from crossing guards to push buttons.”
The details
Chief Financial Officer Scott Wrehe reviewed the budget projection, which included the new transportation piece.
By bringing transportation services in-house, the expected increase in the fiscal year 2024-25 cost is about $2 million, per district documents. LISD also owns 286 buses, but he said the district will have to purchase software for routing, parts, tires, equipment and a vehicle for roadside assistance.
The budget for the transportation department increases LISD payroll, but there will also be a decrease in non-payroll due to the move away from contracted bus services, Wrehe said.
“Those numbers are very fluid,” he said. “It’s going to depend on hiring, how many staff are hired, and what they're paid. Obviously, it's going to depend on what supplies we need and there may be other funding sources for software, potentially.”
Chandler said she hopes the software used by parents to track bus routes will be in place by December, but the plan for the start of the school year is to use the old system.
What else?
The board had a lengthy discussion about funding and the struggles LISD is facing.
Trustee Sheila Taylor said if the district could find a corporate sponsor to help with the transportation cost, the district should explore that revenue stream.
LISD currently has 20 buses that are wrapped to generate revenue, according to the presentation.
