Gadsden ISD staff presented a draft proposal from Boone Transportation to renew the district’s student‑transportation contract and outlined add‑on services the company offered as part of a proposed renewal.

The lede: Boone Transportation proposed keeping driver wage increases aligned with district raises and offered services including a live‑streaming bus camera system, a parent app for bus tracking, annual student scholarships, paid part‑time internships, additional buses for championship travel and sponsored safety events. District staff said legal counsel will review whether a five‑year term or annual renewal language is appropriate and will confirm the transportation allocation when the state releases funding.

Why it matters: Bus contracts affect operational budgets, student safety equipment and after‑hours competitive travel logistics. Board members asked how donated or value‑added items (scholarships, internships, complementary buses) would be structured and whether criteria needed to be added into a written contract.

What the presenters said: The company representatives described internship opportunities in the maintenance shop and office administration, explained that driver hiring and DOT‑regulated driving duties remain subject to state requirements and said the scholarships could be structured with district criteria. District staff said the state transportation allocation was not yet released and that in recent years the district has paid a portion of the transportation contract from local funds.

Numbers and next steps: District staff and Boone flagged a modest percentage increase tied to driver pay and operations; the presenters described the overall increase as roughly 3% versus the prior year, citing an estimated operations/maintenance increase and a forecast of lower fuel costs. District legal counsel will review the proposed term length (five years vs. one‑year renewal) and contract language before a final district recommendation and vote.

Ending: The board received the briefing and posed clarifying questions. No contract was approved during the meeting; staff will return with contract language, procurement details and the finalized allocation once the PED funding notice is released.