The Martin County School District approved a consolidation Tuesday that reduces bus routes from 58 to 55 ahead of the upcoming school year, saving $255,000 without affecting students or eliminating driver positions. The school board voted unanimously on the plan. All bus stops will remain the same and students will not be impacted by the change, district officials said.
Superintendent Michael Maine said the district currently 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.
Michael Skinner, president of the local AFSCME labor union chapter, voiced concerns during public comment on behalf of bus drivers. He said feedback from drivers indicated their buses are always full and cutting routes is not a good idea. Transportation Director Ruth Spires pushed back, noting that the buses hold a maximum of 77 passengers and are not operating at capacity. Spires confirmed that no drivers were let go as part of the consolidation.
Drivers will be paid for any additional hours they work as a result of the consolidation, Spires said. The district was already challenged with a shortage last year, so the routes that were merged were already being covered by existing drivers, she explained. Parents had mixed reactions, with some supporting the financial decision and others questioning where the money will go.