Burlington School Bus Contract Jumps 37 Percent

BURLINGTON, MA — Burlington Public Schools will pay $2.3 million to bus students to school for the next five years, up 37 percent from this year. Town Meeting approved the five-year contract last week, following the school committee's recommendation to accept the bid. The school system received just one bid during the bidding process.

Robert Cunha, director of technology and operations for the School Department, said his department was "slightly disappointed" that it only received one bid, and the bid from Billerica-based A&F Bus Company had given the department "sticker shock." A&F Bus has been the district's carrier for the past 10 years.

"We wanted competition....A lot has changed from the bus contract bidding process of five years ago.," Cunha said. While 16 companies inquired about the contract, only A&F Bus submitted a bid.

Cunha said higher health and insurance costs for bus drivers were being passed on by companies like A&F Bus to school districts like Burlington. Several town meeting members questioned why the district did not opt for a three- or one-year contract to see if the market improved. Precinct 6 Town Meeting and Ways & Means Committee member John Iler said bus companies were reluctant to sign short-term deals, while Precinct 1 Town Meeting member Nolan Glantz said the shorter contract would give the bus company a chance to raise rates sooner.

Separately last week, Town Meeting approved the town's $141 million budget, up 3.9 percent from this year. The body passed the school department's $65.7 million budget, which was higher than the $50.8 million budget. Superintendent Eric Conti attributed the higher figure to the higher bus contract and other projects.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).