Framingham Threatens Penalties Against School Bus Provider

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Framingham school officials are threatening penalties against the district's school bus provider over a chronic lateness problem. School officials are giving Durham School Services until the end of January to fix problems before levying fines — and may cut short the five-year contract with Durham before the June 2021 expiration date.

“It is absolutely imperative that our students get to school every day and on time. The inconsistency and unpredictability of our busing service is standing in the way of that,” Superintendent Robert Tremblay said in a statement.

On average, about 150 students arrive late to school each day due to bus delays. The prime reason is a bus driver shortage, according to officials. Durham should increase driver pay, bring drivers in from other cities, and offer other benefits to make sure drivers show up to work, officials said.

To avoid penalties, the district is requiring that all 76 Durham drivers show up every day between Jan. 2 — the day students return from Christmas break — and Jan. 20. Over the first 63 days of school this year, Durham was short one driver 48 times, according to the district.

In early November, Durham reps appeared at a school board finance subcommittee meeting, where school officials grilled them over the lateness issue. At that meeting, Durham officials said the company had hired seven new drivers from Framingham, but those drivers were still qualifying for their CDL licenses.

A Durham official also said that drivers feel pulled in different directions in Framingham. Durham employs the drivers, but Framingham Public Schools sets bus routes and handles dispatching.

Framingham has taken some steps to remedy the late bus problem. The district plans to roll out a bus tracking app by the spring, something other districts have done. The district is also receiving daily reports on bus service to track problems. And if the district doesn't cancel the Durham contract early, officials may look at reversing a 2011 decision to contract for school bus services.