Contracting out student transportation leaves school districts open to a wide range of unexpected costs and problems, University of Oregon’s Dr. Gordon Lafer told the Winston-Dillard School Board on Wednesday, March 13.
With a group of OSEA members and interested community citizens in attendance, Lafer told the board that potential double-billing, public subsidization of a private commercial fleet, wage and benefit cuts, and overcharging for buses are some of the risks that come with contracting out.
The findings are from “All Costs Considered III,” the latest study by the University of Oregon’s Labor Education and Research Center (LERC), which raises troubling issues following the Central Point School District’s decision to contract out its student transportation.