School Board Moves Forward With Transportation Bid Process

Following a closed-door discussion of the Newtown School District’s transportation contract bidding process at its meeting Tuesday night, the Board of Education issued a statement Wednesday that indicates it is sticking to its commitment for a competitive bidding process. Part of that process is a requirement for a performance bond from all bidders — a requirement that Newtown’s current owner-operator transportation providers believe is designed to eliminate them from consideration in the bidding process.

The statement says, “The Newtown Board of Education (BOE) recognizes the school bus owner/operators have provided loyal service to this community for many decades. However, the cost may be more than the district can afford.” The board notes in its statement that Newtown has the highest per pupil transportation cost in Newtown’s District Reference Group (DRG), a cost that is 40 percent more than the state or DRG averages.

“The rate in the current owner/operator contracts appears to be much higher than competitive market rates, in fact it is more than 30 percent higher than the rate that was achieved from the competitive bid process used for our current special needs transportation contract in 2009,” the statement asserts, adding, “In this period of tough economic times and as responsible stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars, it is important that the District obtain the best possible prices for all services, so that every available dollar can be focused on direct educational expenses.”

The current competitive bid process, which is required by the school board’s policy, will determine the fair market rate for transportation, according to the board. “The results of this bid will help the BOE understand the true cost premium associated with the owner/operator system,” the board states.

The school board acknowledges that “some concern” has been raised by the requirement in the bid for a performance bond. “Transportation is critical to the education mission. The district must ensure that it will be available and that all bids being considered are credible, so as is the practice for municipal bids, the District has included a requirement for a performance bond.” The school board statement noted that fair bidding practices require that the same specifications be imposed on all bidders.

Reacting to a complaint by the owner-operators to the State Department of Labor Relations alleging a failure to bargain with the group’s elected contract committee, the board statement said simply, “The board looks forward to working though this process to find a resolution that is in the best interest of all parties: the owner/operators, the district, and the taxpayers.”