The Saratoga Springs Civil Service Commission on April 30 approved a new position duty statement and job specification that combine the district’s routing specialist and school bus dispatcher duties into a single title: School Bus Dispatcher/Routing Specialist.

Jerry Kearns, a representative of the Saratoga Springs City School District, told the commission the change follows a year-long transportation study and aims to create efficiencies as the district grapples with bus driver shortages. "We're here this morning because we have a new position duty that that we would like to have approved," Kearns said.

The commission approved the title “as modified in today’s meeting (04/30/2025),” including clerical edits to the minimum-qualification language and special notes. Carissa Salvo, staff coordinator for the Civil Service Commission, said the revisions will make the job specification consistent across bullets: the commission agreed to remove accounting- and bookkeeping-related language and to mirror the first bullet that cites experience in "dispatching, routing, or school bus driving." Salvo also said the commission would add "must maintain throughout employment" where appropriate, and change the second-bullet phrasing from "required" to "desired."

Under the plan discussed at the meeting, the incumbents in the separate routing-specialist and dispatcher titles will be laid off from their current titles and appointed to the new combined title. Commissioners and staff said benefits and compensation for those incumbents will not change. The commission noted the abolishment of the prior two titles will be placed on the commission’s June agenda and that the change becomes effective July 1.

Chairperson Tim Holmes and Commissioners Joanna Zangrando and Jeff Altamari voted in favor of the motion; the vote was recorded as unanimous. The commission did not change duties beyond combining the existing routing and dispatch functions, and staff emphasized the change is intended to allow cross-training and better coverage in the transportation office.

The commission and school representatives said the restructuring responds to recruitment and staffing pressures in school transportation and is intended to increase continuity and career-development opportunities for employees. The new title will be administered under the civil-service process the commission oversees, including posting and any required competitive exam or appointment steps before appointments become permanent.