HOUGHTON - The Houghton-Portage Township School District won't be privatizing their bus service next year, but board members said the move is likely only delaying the end of the district's bus fleet.
At a meeting earlier this month, the district's transportation committee recommended the board postpone buying a bus for two years, which would allow most of the district's drivers to become eligible for retirement.
But that doesn't guarantee anything, said board President Dan Crane.
"The big key there is we are not guaranteeing employment for anyone," he said. "If the conditions change, our plans could change as well."
By the end of that period, it will have been four years since the district bought a bus, said Secretary Brad Baltensperger. And the money saved on buses will already have been spent on other things.
"At that point, we are essentially out of the bus hardware business, unless we are going to buy 10 new buses," he said.
Also, Crane noted, the extra two years could bring more competition into the private bus market, which could drive costs down.
The district had been researching privatization for the past three years. In December, the board decided to send a proposed five-year contract with Schilleman Transportation of Eagle River, Wis. back to committee.
At that December meeting, union presidents George Michaelson and Kim Maki made their counter proposal, which also included consolidating bus runs, using current staff for extra runs and using fewer athletic charters.
Hancock Public Schools, which would have partnered with Houghton in the private bus service, voted against the idea at their December meeting.
Garrett Neese can be reached at gneese@mininggazette.com.