County school board postpones bus outsourcing requests

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September 25, 2012

County school board postpones bus outsourcing requests

By Christopher Smith christophersmith@daltoncitizen.com The Dalton Daily Citizen Tue Sep 25, 2012, 09:00 AM EDT

Discussion on Monday about the possibility of outsourcing Whitfield County Schools’ bus service ended with members of the Board of Education putting off sending requests to private companies.

Assistant Superintendent Richard Schoen said he was developing a request for proposals before board members asked to postpone it.

“We’re not taking any action until we have a chance to communicate with the transportation staff,” said board Chairman Louis Fordham. “I can’t speak for everyone, but whether we even send off the requests will be based on the feedback we get from the staff.”

Board members are looking for savings to help with a deficit stemming from less state funding and more state regulations, said Fordham, but they won’t make any “radical” decisions.

“We have a $5 million deficit from last year,” said Ron Hale, chief financial officer. “That hole has never been filled. You also have to add on $3.5 million in these state mandates (for retirement benefits and medical care) and a $3 million loss in revenue from last year.”

If the request went out it would be for “information gathering purposes only,” said Schoen.

“It’s important to understand that a decision has not been made,” said Schoen. “We’re trying to be as responsible as we can in a financial crisis by looking at all options.”

Fordham said a member of the board, who has not been selected yet, will meet with bus drivers this week. There are 126 bus drivers, according to the school system’s website, and 9,500 students who ride the buses.

“Early this year we anticipated how to save dollars,” said Fordham. “We’re keeping the taxpayers in mind. This (meeting) is not an unusual request. It is just one more place we’re looking at options.”

If a private company is selected, school officials would need to start early, said Schoen.

“I’ve been talking with systems that use outside companies,” he said. “They said the later you wait after February the harder it is to implement.”

Fordham said he is hesitant to talk to companies since bus staff are already tense.

“I think you’re looking at a group of people who are looking for a reason to not drive a bus for us,” said Fordham. “I think we need to put accountability back on the board. We’re looking at all our options, but we need to have this discussion in person. We’re going to be very cautious. We appreciate the loyalty of our bus drivers. We’ll talk to them first.”

Board members also asked about options for demolishing the old Eastbrook Middle School, including hiring a private company or using county government crews. A new $24 million Eastbrook Middle, which opened this year, is being paid for through the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST).

The 2011 fiscal year audit was also discussed. Hale said the system was mostly in compliance except for a few late document submissions and a non-special education employee who received pay from Special Education Cluster funds rather than from the general fund.

A resolution opposing the proposed constitutional amendment on the Nov. 6 ballot that would allow the governor and other officials to create a committee to approve or turn down charter school requests will be discussed at Monday’s meeting, said Fordham. That meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. at the central office at 1306 S. Thornton Ave.

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County school board postpones bus outsourcing requests

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