Stop the Outsourcing of Bus Service for District 57

Say NO to Outsourcing!

Since 1979, School District 57 has operated its own in-house transportation department. In the past 30 years, there have not been any significant failings of this system, until one of our bus drivers was charged with aggravated DUI in March of 2010.

Because of this one incident, the current school board is considering the dissolution of the transportation department and outsourcing the student's bussing needs to a third party company.

The School Board and the Superintendent have stated that they intend to make this decision in the next few weeks, perhaps as early as June 3rd, 2010. An outside bus company would be in charge of student bussing as soon as the 2010-2011 school year.

The transportation department has been a safety net for District 57 students for the last 30 years, and should not be dissolved. A permanent Transportation Coordinator must be hired as soon as possible, and a restructuring of the transportation department would follow. Safety and financial responsibility should be the primary focus of this newly restructured, in-house transportation department.