Stevensville School District 

NONINSTRUCTIONAL OPERATIONS

Contracting for Transportation Services

If the Board enters into a contract for transportation services, the contractor shall operate such equipment in accordance with District policy and the rules and regulations of the Board of Public Education.  The contract shall be in effect for not more than five (5) years.  Before entering into the first (1st) such contract, the District shall determine that the cost of contracting for the ensuing term will not exceed projected costs of operating its own system.  Before any transportation contract is awarded to a private party or contractor, the trustees shall:

  1. Secure bids by advertising for a twenty-one-(21)-day period (three (3) consecutive weeks); or
  2. Negotiate a new contract with the current contractor, provided the new contract does not exceed by more than twelve percent (12%) per year the basic costs of the previous contract.

No money shall be expended, unless a contract with a private carrier has been executed.  The Board Chairperson will sign such contracts on behalf of the District.

The District reserves the right to own, operate, and to choose with respect to any other form of transportation, whether it be regular school, co-curricular, extracurricular, or District business programs, the means of transportation which best fits District needs at that particular time, as determined by the Board.

Legal Reference:
§ 20-10-102, MCA School bus requirements
§ 20-10-107, MCA Power of trustees
§ 20-10-125, MCA Bid letting for contract bus – payments under transportation contract
10.7.108, ARM Bus Contracts

Policy History:
Adopted on: February 12, 2002
Reviewed on: December 17, 2001; April 14, 2015
Revised on: