North Little Rock Keeps Control of Bus Transportation

After nearly five hours in discussions, North Little Rock School board members voted unanimously against outsourcing school bus drivers. The vote came as a victory to bus drivers who spent the day campaigning with flyers against it, and pleading with board members during a meeting Thursday night. School Superintendent Tom Kimbrell said the district was only hearing the three proposals to make sure the taxpayers were getting their money`s worth. In one proposal, First Student Services would cost the district a total of $4.5 million dollars for the 2005-2006 school year. Drivers would be paid the same amount, $8.97/hr., as with NLRSD, and insurance costs would vary. Durham School Services` proposal would cost the district $4.3 million dollars. Drivers would be paid $10/hr, with a 3% increase, and insurance would cost more than the district`s at $64.33/month. Laidlaw, which is currently contracted by the Little Rock School District, would cost NLRSD $4.6 million. Drivers would be paid the same amount as the school district, and insurance would also cost less, based on an employee`s longevity. None of these plans will be implemented since the board voted against privatizing.