BROOKS - A year ago, Regional School Unit 3 switched to a single bus run system in an effort to cut down on fuel bills and driver hours. On Nov. 12, school officials voted to seek bids from private transportation companies in hopes of saving a little bit more.

Superintendent Heather Perry said the vote did not amount to a decision to contract out the district’s bus operations. The request for proposals would be a way to find out if it was worthwhile for the district, which serves 11 towns in Western Waldo County.

“This is really the board’s attempt to see what’s out there,” she said.

Board members reviewed drafts of the RFP, but the document was not made public on Tuesday.

Perry speculated that any savings would come from economies of scale, in which a larger company might be able to get better prices on tires or other equipment than the district has been able to get on its own.

The superintendent said she was aware of three rural or small-city school districts in Maine that have contracted out bus transportation, including Bucksport and Auburn. Additionally, she said, many if not all Bangor schools use private companies.

Transportation companies that work with school districts range from national companies specifically serving schools like Cincinnati, Ohio-based First Student, to charter bus lines like Old Town-based Cyr Bus Lines and Lewiston-based Northeast Charter & Tour Co. that have expanded their offerings to include school bus runs.

If RSU 3 does eventually go with a private contractor, Perry said the district would most likely retain ownership of the buses. A common arrangement, she said, is to lease them to the company for a dollar.

Ryan Harden, RSU 3 board member from Waldo, recalled a large turnout by drivers during the talks of the single bus run, which had the effect of cutting driver hours.

“Is there any reason that’s not happening now?” he said. 

Perry said she has been in close communication with the transportation association and its drivers. RSU 3 transportation workers are currently working under a contract that expires in July 2015.

“I feel like we need to do this,” said Troy board member Rachel Katz, noting that the last school budget didn’t pass in her town.

Others, including Myrick Cross of Freedom had questions about what would happen to current staff, including transportation director Raymond Shute.

Perry said the contractor would be required to provide a “Ray-like” person. She added that the contractor would have to retain the current drivers for at least a year.

Thorndike director Jesse Hargrove pointed out that Shute is supervised by the district. Who would the contractor report to? he asked.

Perry said the agreement between the district and the contractor would include “protection language,” and that she would personally “have a say” in operations at the administrative level.

The board approved the motion to put out an RFP. Perry issuing the request immediately, receiving proposals in December and presenting those to the board in late December or January.

Ethan Andrews can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com