MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — After reversing its decision to create parent responsibility zones, a measure that would cut bus service for students living near their school, Rutherford County Schools is looking for ways to provide students with transportation for the upcoming school year.

As of publication, the district remains in unresolved contract negotiations with an organization representing 70% of district drivers.

“I'm trying to get as much service to as many kids as possible with the reality of: we're going to have shortcomings to start the year,” Director of Schools Jimmy Sullivan said during a Board of Education work session. 

To help make up for an estimated 10 to 12 unfilled routes next year, Sullivan recommended that the board look at purchasing its own buses. With that, drivers would be covered under the county's insurance — a major point of contention in current contract discussions.

“Providing transportation services to our families is something we saw with — mentioning the PRZ — that is definitely something that is valued, rightfully so, in this community," Sullivan said. "And I've got to provide options to the board of all different types of scenarios, whether I like it or not."

Some school board members were on board looking to purchase buses — something the district could also use, if needed, to replace aging activity buses. However, others were more hesitant to move forward with recommending a several million-dollar purchase. 

“I don't see that we have any choice but to buy them,” RCS board member Butch Vaughn said at the work session.

“We're going to spend $4 million on these buses. We don't have anywhere to park them. We don't have anybody to drive them. We don't have anybody to maintenance them...” another RCS board member, Tammy Sharp, said. “We need to at least try to put an ad hoc committee together and look at this to see that we're not going down the wrong road.” 

Whatever the board decides to do, Sullivan stressed that they need to come up with something as the Rutherford County Commission plans next year's budget. 

"We need to formally have some type of backup plan because we are being asked by our funding body,” Sullivan said.  

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/murfreesboro/rcs-bus-plans-remain-in-air/