Board awards five-year transportation contract to First Student after reviewing two bids
May 13, 2024 | Mineral Point Unified School District, School Districts, Wisconsin
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The Mineral Point Unified School District board voted to enter a five-year transportation contract with First Student after staff opened bids from First Student and Lamers and recommended First Student based on total cost and service considerations.
Administration told trustees that First Student's bid equated to about $340 per bus per day for routine routes and that First Student's rates include an annual increase (approximately 4.5% per year in the contract). "I recommend that we maintain our working relationship with First Student and sign on to a contract with them for transportation," the District administrator said, citing prior service continuity and the ability to secure drivers and equipment during a busy season.
Trustees discussed Lamers' alternative pricing, which used peak and off‑peak trip charges and a higher minimum trip fee for busy times; administration said that structure would likely raise costs for the district during high-demand weeks. Trustees also asked about fuel risk and whether the district could hedge or lock fuel pricing; administration said the district has no storage and that fuel remains the district's expense under the contract.
The motion to contract with First Student for five years carried on a roll-call vote. The board noted the contract would include annual rate escalations and asked administration to continue exploring options to control fuel costs and track trip charges.
Why it matters: Transportation is a material budget item for the district and the contract determines route costs, trip pricing for extracurricular travel and which vendor will supply drivers and buses for the next five years. Changes in trip structure (peak/off-peak) affect the price of co-curricular trips and could influence program budgets for athletics and activities.
Next steps: Administration will finalize contract terms with First Student and return any final contract to the board for signature and public posting.
Administration told trustees that First Student's bid equated to about $340 per bus per day for routine routes and that First Student's rates include an annual increase (approximately 4.5% per year in the contract). "I recommend that we maintain our working relationship with First Student and sign on to a contract with them for transportation," the District administrator said, citing prior service continuity and the ability to secure drivers and equipment during a busy season.
Trustees discussed Lamers' alternative pricing, which used peak and off‑peak trip charges and a higher minimum trip fee for busy times; administration said that structure would likely raise costs for the district during high-demand weeks. Trustees also asked about fuel risk and whether the district could hedge or lock fuel pricing; administration said the district has no storage and that fuel remains the district's expense under the contract.
The motion to contract with First Student for five years carried on a roll-call vote. The board noted the contract would include annual rate escalations and asked administration to continue exploring options to control fuel costs and track trip charges.
Why it matters: Transportation is a material budget item for the district and the contract determines route costs, trip pricing for extracurricular travel and which vendor will supply drivers and buses for the next five years. Changes in trip structure (peak/off-peak) affect the price of co-curricular trips and could influence program budgets for athletics and activities.
Next steps: Administration will finalize contract terms with First Student and return any final contract to the board for signature and public posting.
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