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Woodland considers buying vans and hiring in‑house drivers as third‑party transport costs surge

5863849 · May 23, 2025
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Summary

District staff reported exploring purchase of a small fleet of vans and hiring in‑house drivers to reduce third‑party transportation costs, which rose from about $300,000 historically to an estimated $1.3–$1.4 million this year as ridership increased.

District staff told the board they have investigated buying a small fleet of vans and hiring in‑house staff to replace some third‑party transportation contracts amid sharply rising costs. The staff presentation said the number of students transported grew from 72 to 119 in three years and that contracted transportation costs rose from an average around $300,000 to an estimated $1.3–$1.4 million this year.

Staff argued that using district-owned vans and employees would reduce costs, provide more consistent service for students who require ongoing transport and remove reliance on third-party companies whose prices rose substantially since the height of COVID-19. The board received the written report and discussed next steps; no final procurement decision was recorded in the meeting.

Officials said the move would be both a cost‑containment measure and a way to improve reliability and continuity of service for students with regular transport needs.