The Martin County School District approved a consolidation Tuesday that reduces the number of bus routes from 58 to 55 ahead of the upcoming school year, saving $255,000 without affecting students or eliminating any driver positions. The school board voted unanimously on the plan. District officials say all bus stops will remain the same and students will not be impacted by the change.
Superintendent Michael Maine said the district has 55 routes and roughly 56 drivers, meaning all routes are covered. The $255,000 in savings reflects a reduced transportation budget and will not be redirected to a specific expense, according to the school district. Transportation Director Ruth Spires confirmed that no drivers were let go as part of the consolidation, and drivers will be paid for any additional hours they work as a result of the change.
Parents have mixed reactions to the consolidation. Marino Reyes and Tiffany Gugumuck expressed support for the financial decision, saying a quarter million dollars could be used for other needs. Parent Ken Winstanley questioned where the money would go. Michael Skinner, the President of the local AFSCME labor union chapter, voiced concerns during public comment on behalf of bus drivers, saying their feedback indicated buses are always full and cutting routes might not be a good idea.
Spires pushed back on that concern, noting that the buses hold a maximum of 77 passengers and are not operating at capacity. She said the district was already challenged with a shortage last year, so the drivers were already covering the routes that were merged. The district said it is confident it will maintain the same level of service with fewer buses on the road.