Rutherford County Schools director says he’s now hopeful any potential bus driver strike will be “limited”

Exterior of a school bus (Photo by Rutherford County Schools)

Rutherford County Schools Director Dr. Jimmy Sullivan posted a video Wednesday afternoon to let parents know he’s now hopeful the potential school bus driver strike will be limited, if it happens at all.

Sullivan said the district has heard from an attorney that represents some of the bus contractors who’ve been threatening to begin striking on May 1, who now says those drivers are planning to stay on the job.

“We are hopeful that any strikes will be limited, and we anticipate the majority of our contractors continue operating their routes throughout the school year. While we do not expect any widespread route disruptions, we know that there is always that possibility of isolated issues,” said Sullivan.

Sullivan’s comments are aimed at easing concerns from parents following a letter the district’s school bus drivers sent last week threatening to park their buses as soon as Thursday if the school board doesn’t return to the negotiating table for a new contract.

Last week, Rutherford County Schools (RCS) board members voted to approve a compensation package for bus drivers and contractors that included a 17 percent pay increase and a 2. percent raise in each of the next three years. The Rutherford County Bus Contractors Organization (RCBCO) slammed the offer in a statement, calling it a poverty wage. The RCBCO represents 70 percent of school bus drivers in the county. The organization says over the past five years, the RCBCO’s operating costs rose between 50 and 150 percent due to rising costs for fuel, parts, and maintenance. During that same period, compensation for drivers and contractors increased by 14 percent under the current contract, a trend the organization says simply isn’t sustainable for its members.

“The BOE (board of education) approved this compensation package despite multiple, unequivocal representations by the RCBCO and other members of the community that its terms were simply not sufficient to sustain its members’ operating expenses over the next four years and would drive many RCBCO members into financial ruin,” the RCBCO said in a press release. “The BOE has left the RCBCO with no other option than to take measures that it regrets, but that are necessary under the circumstances. The RCBCO is compelled to cease providing school bus transportation services in Rutherford County effective May 1, 2025.”

In addition to wages, another point of contention was insurance coverage for school bus owners and operators. Previously, liability insurance for the buses was carried by the county. However, beginning next school year, school bus contractors will be required to provide their coverage. After some tense discussion, school board members ultimately voted to provide a $4,000 stipend for each bus in service this year to help drivers absorb that cost.

“I didn’t change the law. So, I hope all of y’all understand that and some of you have been very vindictive to me. I have been the biggest advocate for them to try to protect them (bus operators), to protect the kids of this county, to protect the taxpayers of this county,” said Zone 2 Board Member Stan Vaught in the meeting.

“It’s either the bus drivers take the $4,000 and get the insurance or we don’t have any bus service,” said Zone 6 Member Butch Vaughn.

In the letter, members of the RCBCO demanded that the school board resume discussion to reach a different agreement, rather than what it calls a “take it or leave it” approach to the school bus contract. The organization has not provided an updated statement to the public.

Rutherford County Schools spokesperson James Evans told the Tennessee Firefly on Monday that any bus drivers that do strike could lose their contracts.

“Some contractors have demanded a 35 percent increase in pay, which is unprecedented, unrealistic, and would affect our ability to offer some vital academic programs for students,” wrote Evans in a statement. “Contracted service providers do not have the legal right to strike, and so it will be difficult to continue doing business with those contractors if they choose to breach their existing contract and abandon students. The school district appreciates those contractors who continue to honor their existing contract, and we plan to continue working with those contractors to provide bus service for the remainder of the school year.”

The district has additionally promised to work with families to excuse the absences of students who are impacted if a strike does occur.

Parent Responsibility Zone approved

During Thursday’s meeting, the school board also voted to implement a county-wide parent responsibility zone (PRZ) to reduce transportation costs. Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, school bus service will not be available to students in kindergarten through fifth grade living within one mile from school, and for students in sixth through twelfth grades living within a mile and a half from school. That means parents will have to find another way to get their students to class. Those parent responsibility zones will save the district around $3 million. The idea sparked debate among board members, with some calling the move necessary, while others expressed serious concerns about the hardships it might put on local families.

“We are definitely going to have to do (PRZ) zones. We are in a hole, a deep hole, and I don’t know what we can do. We’ve got so much coming on us right now,” said Board Chair Claire Maxwell. “It’s not something that I like, but I think it’s something we have to do.”

“Is it more important for us to provide transportation for the kids we’re required to educate or is it more important for us to have programs that people enjoy?” said Zone 4 Member Katie Darby. “We have a lot of great things in Rutherford County, a lot of programs, a lot of subscriptions our teachers are utilizing, a lot of things we love, and I don’t want to take those from them, but a lot of these parents don’t know how their kids are going to get to school if we don’t have bus service.”

The board did vote to exempt parents with disabilities that might prevent them from transporting their children to school from the PRZ. Currently, every student enrolled in Rutherford County Schools is eligible for school bus service. Several other districts in Tennessee, including Knox County Schools and Cleveland City Schools, already have PRZs.

Wednesday afternoon Dr. Sullivan also provided parents with an update on the PRZ plan, saying he plans to ask the school board to table the proposal for a school year to give the district the opportunity to study it further.

“I greatly appreciate the school board looking for alternative solutions to help control transportation costs, but we do know that there are some areas where a parent transportation zone will not work and those are the types of scenarios that we are analyzing to report back to the school board before moving forward,” said Sullivan.

The board could vote on Sullivan’s proposed PRZ pause as early as its next meeting on May 12.

Updated Wednesday with comments from the Director Sullivan.