May 1, 2015 1 min read

CARMICHAELS – Carmichaels Area School Board approved a contract Thursday for student transportation with First Student Inc. that will save the district about $950,000 during the four-year term of the agreement, Superintendent John Menhart said.

First Student is the district’s current student transportation provider, and the new contract goes into effect July 1.

Three busing companies submitted proposals for the contract. In awarding the contract, the board took into consideration costs, experience and the district’s current track record with First Student.

Under the new contract, the district will pay about $912,000 the first year. Costs will increase about 2 to 2 ½ percent each year during the remaining years, Amy Todd, business manager, said.

In other action, the board hired Joanna Walker as the district’s junior-senior high band director. She replaces Jason Baily who resigned last month.

Walker is currently a music and chorus director in the district.

It was announced the negotiations committee reached a tentative contract with the district’s custodians. The 11 employees are represented by the Service Employees International Union.

The agreement has not yet been approved by the full board or the employees. Details were not released.