Glencoe District 35 officials are bracing for a steep rate increase for its bus services starting in the 2023-24 school year, due to the same financial pressures impacting other parts of the nation.
In March, the school board reviewed terms of a proposed two-year contract extension with Alltown Bus Service, Inc. that included a 31.5% rate increase for the district in the next school year and another 7% in 2024-25.
Under that scenario, the district would pay an additional approximate $147,000 in 2023-24, according to Director of Finance and Operations Jason Edelheit.
Glencoe 35 has contracted with Alltown since 2003, and despite the impending rate hike, Board President Kelly Glauberman said it would not be feasible to look for a new carrier.
“The service levels have been there,” Edelheit added.
Edelheit noted the Alltown option likely remained the most cost effective.
“We are not thrilled with the size of the increase,” Edelheit said. “The rate that we will wind up paying is a large increase but is still slightly below market rates.”
Edelheit believed the rate increase was tied into inflation, higher fuel costs and increased wages for bus drivers, mechanics and dispatchers.
An Alltown representative did not return telephone calls requesting comment.
The board tabled the vote on the increase at the March 13 and directed Edelheit to explore a possible contract extension beyond two years.
Glencoe 35 has 377 riders — just under a third of the district’s total students this year — with seven routes taking children from both South and the West Schools, which are two schools for the youngest children and two routes from Central School, where fifth through eighth grade students attend.
The bus routes also include an afternoon route that transports children to the Glencoe Park District’s Takiff Center headquarters following the end of school.
“In effect, we as a district are subsidizing the way parents transport their children to after school programs,” Glauberman said.
District 35 does not receive any state money for busing and for years the school district has maintained where the board pays a sizable chunk of the busing fees and the district, according to district officials. This year families are only paying 40% or $560 per year for two-way service.
Edelheit said of the fee policy, “It’s been not wanting to increase the fees significantly and wanting to have a busing program.”
Edelheit said he expected the fee that families pay for the bus service to change, but was not certain of an exact amount. He said that would be discussed at the April 13 school board meeting.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.