Leave Kid On Elmhurst Bus? It'll Cost

ELMHURST, IL – For the first time in memory, Elmhurst School District 205 has included penalties in its bus contract.

The agreement also includes a 12 percent cost increase for the next school year, which follows a 17 percent hike this year.

At school board members' request, the district negotiated penalties into the agreement with Cincinnati-based First Student.

The largest penalty is for when the bus company leaves a student on the bus after the driver has completed the last stop – $10,000 per occurrence.

If First Student fails to operate a route without 24 hours' notice to the district, it must pay a $750 fine.

The company must pay $500 every time a bus camera system is not working.

It must also pay $100 every time a bus arrives after the final bell for the first class. The same charge applies if a bus arrives after the dismissal bell at the end of the day.

The contract states that the lateness penalties do not apply when conditions outside the company's control interfere. Such conditions include weather, crashes that impede traffic and construction.

On Tuesday, the school board voted unanimously for the contract. Member Karen Stuefen did not attend.