West Ada district outsources busing

The state’s largest school district says an outsourced busing contract will save close to $16 million over five years — and drivers will likely keep their jobs.

But some of the district’s 340 drivers left upset and angry Wednesday evening, after the West Ada School District voted to contract with Cascade Student Transportation for busing. (Here’s the full story from Holly Beech at Meridian Press.)

The West Ada district — which is dropping its old name, Meridian School District — says one of its goals is to restore kindergarten bus service. Drivers will make a higher hourly wage, and have the chance to work more than four hours a day, their current average shift. But drivers say their health insurance costs will skyrocket, Beech reports, and the higher wages won’t cover the difference.

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 35 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. He can be reached at [email protected]

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