Lamers seeks 100% payment in Clintonville
By Bert Lehman
The Clintonville School Board took no action on a request by Lamers Bus Lines to have the Clintonville School District pay 100% of its bussing contract, even though schools are currently closed.
The district had originally received the request via a letter from Lamers.
When the school board discussed the request at its March 23 meeting, David Dyb, superintendent for the Clintonville School District, told the board that the contract with Lamers states, “The contractor will not receive payment for a canceled school day, in the event school is closed due to weather conditions, etc., there is no charge to the district if buses do not operate.”
Many busing companies across the state of Wisconsin have asked school districts for a reconsideration of busing contracts, Dyb said.
At the time of the meeting, the school district was running two buses each day to provide meals to students, at a cost of $361 per day. A normal school day would cost the district $2,450 per day for busing.
Lamers was requesting the district pay its contracted amount of $2,450 per day.
“So, in other words, what Lamers is asking us, is that we pay them for no service?” Board Treasurer Strauman asked. “I say pay for what we’re getting. Why would we pay more? I mean, every business is hurting right now.”
Board President Ben Huber said some school districts have approved paying 50% of their bus contract, while others have approved paying 85%. Other districts have contract guarantees.
Board Vice-President Laurie Vollrath asked if Lamers planned to pay its drivers if the school district paid 100% of the bus contract.
Huber said the school district has no ability to enforce that.
“It’s almost a moot point because if we pay them, they can choose to pay their drivers, which my guess is, that’s what they would do, but we cannot force them to do that,” Huber said.
Strauman recommended the district check with other districts Lamers has contracts with to see how they are handling their bus contract.
Maintaining goodwill
Board member Jim Schultz asked why the school district would pay for a service that isn’t being done.
Huber said to maintain goodwill.
“We have had a long and good relationship with Lamers, and we will very likely need them next year,” Huber said.
Allen Lamers, president of Lamers Bus Lines, told the board that he understands the concerns the school board have, and that Lamers does intend to pay its drivers.
“Drivers are very hard to find because of all the licensing and new regulations,” Lamers said. “The idea of part-time with no benefits, we felt that the only way we can salvage our drivers is to pay them the regular pay. Besides that, we have staff for the phones, we have payroll people who have to do the payroll, and we’re paying the bills as far as utilities.”
He added that Lamers would like to keep a mechanic on staff, and the buses are being cleaned and disinfected.
“All of this adds up to quite a significant amount of funds being used,” Lamers said.
He added, “There is no way that if we’re reimbursed that we’re not going to be paying our drivers, because if we don’t, we won’t have anybody next year.”
Some districts Lamers serves are paying 75-83% of their contract, Lamers said.
Contract returns to agenda
The Lamers bus contract request was again on the agenda for the board’s special meeting held March 30.
At this meeting, Dyb told the board that the National School Transportation Association is lobbying federal and state governments to mandate action that requires school districts to honor transportation contracts to the conclusion of the coronavirus pandemic.
He said the district doesn’t know to what extent aid will be available to private carriers and school districts to pay private carriers.
“The state statute right now says you’re not eligible for your reimbursement if you’re not carrying kids,” Dyb said.
He added that this is a huge issue around the United States.
“I guess it’s up to the board what you want to tell Lamers where we’re at with the topic,” Dyb said.
Strauman said she thinks the is too much information that is unknown to make a decision.
“My feeling is I think we should table this until we get some more ideas and see what the government is going to do,” Strauman. “We have to take care of our employees first.”
Schultz agreed with Strauman.
“I think it just makes sense to wait and see,” Huber said.