(The Center Square) – Don’t be alarmed if you see St. Louis Public School students boarding vans, cabs and vehicles other than school buses as they head to school this fall.
The bus company serving the district discontinued its contract earlier in March with a year remaining. The district paid families approximately $75 per week for transporting their children to school during the the last two weeks of the year. No other bus company was identified or came forward to serve the district. The district’s transportation budget is approximately $30 million.
Last year, the company serving the district had half its buses fail the Missouri State Highway Patrol inspection. The 2024 Missouri State Highway Patrol report found 71.9% of buses serving the district passed inspection and 7.9% were put out of service and required to make repairs and be reinspected before continuing to transport passengers.
The district was criticized by teachers a few weeks ago as multiple media outlets reported an email was mistakenly sent with a request for teachers willing to drive school buses if certifications were met.
On Tuesday, the district’s board approved a plan to use approximately 19 vendors to transport students to school. High school students will use the region’s transit system of buses and light rail to get to school.
Vendors listed on the district’s website include Metro/ABC/Checkers Cab and alternate transportation companies Highly Blessed and Favored, After5Delivery and HopSkipDrive.
“These strategies are not intended to give information to families about what’s coming up next as far as their transportation, but they are the important underpinnings that we need to move from our simulated plans with our partners and to actual plans,” first-year Superintendent Keisha Scarlett told the board before the plan was presented.
The district’s transportation department reported a shortage of bus drivers is causing problems for schools throughout the nation. There will be approximately 70 fewer buses available for the district and it anticipates not being able to cover current routes with the vendors.
“This is a community problem,” Scarlett said after the board voted to approve the plan. “We need community solutions just like we’ve said. So to our broader community that’s listening and our families, we thank you for your unmerited patience and understanding and collaboration is deeply appreciated.”
The plan calls for varying start and end times for schools. It includes an opt-out campaign for students not planning to ride the bus to increase efficiencies. The number of stops will be reduced and routes planned so high-capacity vehicles will be assigned to transport the most students.
“Together, we are navigating this crisis and really trying to lay a foundation for a brighter and more reliable future for our students,” Scarlett said. “Equitable and barrier-free access to transportation, as has been said, is like a social contract. And we do know that. And we take it very seriously.”
Before navigating to any page on the district’s website, a popup message from an administrator appears to alert visitors of the transportation change.
“These recommendations should achieve consistent on-time performance, shorter trips, and a far more efficient use of our resources,” according to Square Watson, chief operations officer of the district. “Also, please know that our goal is consistent, ongoing improvement in the service we provide to you. This means ongoing discussion and review of the plans listed above.”
