Holley discusses budget, busing

As with most school districts, Holley is planning for the future and part of that planning is centering around looking into the district's transportation budget.

"We're looking at the development of the budget and in doing that we look at all aspects of the district and the idea of contracting for busing came up," Superintendent Robert D'Angelo said.

Transportation budgets and personnel receives as much attention as academic programs, D'Angelo said.

Don Dickinson, a school bus driver for the past 14 years, said he and his fellow drivers oppose a switch to contract busing services. "None of the drivers want that. We'd lose our independence and contract busing doesn't pay as well," he said.

D'Angelo said talking about any kind of change in busing is premature at best. "We haven't even gathered any numbers yet," he said. "Any kind of changes made within the district would be carefully examined by the district and community input would be gathered."

Dickinson said he feels parents would be against a switch in busing. "The parents like knowing who is driving their children and they're happy with us," he said. The change to contract busing, D'Angelo said, would require a vote by district residents.

"No decisions have been made regarding transportation," D'Angelo said.

Dickinson said members of the bus drivers union are urging residents to attend the school board meeting on January 23 at 7 p.m.

Margaret Morse, president of the union, said in a written statement, that "We believe that the subcontracting of transportation services is a violation of the Taylor Law. For this reason, we request that the district not consider contracting out the transportation of district students."

January 22, 2006