Fed-Up LTHS May Seek New Bus Firm

LA GRANGE, IL – A top Lyons Township High School official said this week the school is considering going out to bid for its bus service for the first time in nearly two decades.

At Monday's school board meeting, Superintendent Brian Waterman said Cincinnati-based First Student has shown "incremental" progress in its performance. But he said the company's lateness rate remains unacceptable.

Late-start Wednesdays have been particularly problematic. On Aug. 30, 10 of the 27 buses were late to school, compared with seven on Sept. 6 and two on Sept. 13.

Last week, late buses after school ranged from two to seven each day, Waterman said. The exception was Wednesday, when all the buses were on time.

The school last went out to bid for its bus contract in 2005. It has been renewing it since then.

Because of the problems, Waterman said, the school is closely tracking the data.

"If we're going to make a change, we have to get way ahead of the game," he said.

A decision on going out to bid, he said, needed to be made by winter break.

Over the last two decades, bus companies have consolidated. Now, the area has two big bus firms – First Student and Cook-Illinois, officials said.

Brian Stachacz, the high school's business services director, suggested First Student may be the only bidder.

"If they come in with a 15 percent increase or a 20 percent increase in cost, that's who we're going with," Stachacz said. "We still have the same service issues. Now, we're just continuing to pay more for those same service issues. It's not a great position for us to be in."

During public comments, resident Charles Hitzeman said he had been looking into the bus situation since last year. He said he even visited the bus depot last year and offered to volunteer as a driver for two weeks, given bus driver shortages.

"I'm overqualified for the position, and I was laughed at," he said.

Hitzeman, a parent of two students, said other school districts have stricter contracts with First Student. He doubted the high school enforced penalty clauses in its agreement.

"I don't know whether anyone's playing hardball with this company or not," he said. "It's time."

In a Patch story earlier this month, First Student defended its performance.