Board questions $350,000 increase to Everdriven student-transport contract; staff cites shortfall, summer program and McKinney–Vento consolidation

Board members spent substantial time discussing action item No. 9, a requested increase to the Everdriven contract for sedan transportation. Administration said the $350,000 increase covers: a shortfall in the current year, expanded summer-discovery and special‑education needs, and consolidation of McKinney–Vento (homeless‑student) transportation that had previously been provided by a separate vendor.

Transportation staff explained that consolidation of McKinney–Vento trips into the Everdriven contract explains part of the increase; staff told trustees the previous McKinney–Vento vendor had a budget of about $50,000 and that Everdriven now covers that service in addition to current routing needs. Trustees asked for a line-by-line accounting and how much of the increase is one‑time versus recurring.

Trustees also raised child-safety and oversight questions. Board members asked whether Everdriven vehicles have dashboard cameras; staff replied that the company has only recently begun adding dashboard cameras and that the sedans currently used for third‑party transport do not all have the same camera systems the district uses on buses. Trustees asked that any vehicle-camera program include clear access rules so the district can retrieve footage when necessary, similar to what the district requires for its buses.

Administration noted the practical reason the district uses third‑party sedans: some vehicles offer wheelchair lifts and can reach locations a full bus cannot. Staff emphasized the increase was requested to finish the current year’s work, fund summer programming and help stabilize next year’s budget.

The consent motion that bundled this item (items 1–18 with the exception of item 17) passed on roll-call vote.

Provenance: board discussion and staff responses about the Everdriven increase and camera/oversight questions occurred during the action‑items portion of the meeting.