ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst School District 205 has seen double-digit cost increases for its bus service over the last three years.
The hikes were 17 percent in 2022-23, 12 percent in 2023-24 and an estimated nearly 10 percent in 2024-25, according to the district.
The district is facing another double-digit increase for next year from its main bus provider, First Student, and its special education bus provider, Cottage Hill Operating. The contracts have been year to year.
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But Chris Whelton, assistant superintendent of finance, told the school board Tuesday that the district could get increases of 5 or 6 percent annually under five-year deals with the firms.
“The companies have been experiencing a lot of pressure as far as trying to attract drivers and retain drivers,” he said. “The equipment costs have been extensive, $120,000 approximately for a bus.”
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Whelton also said the firms have been responsive to complaints.
“There’s always an adjustment period at the beginning of the year,” he said.
The existing contracts include penalties for service problems, but the district hasn’t exercised them lately, Whelton said. Those clauses would remain, he said.
“We try to work with them to resolve problems that come up with drivers, that sort of thing,” he said. “They really haven’t had shortages. They started the year fully staffed.”
Whelton said he wanted to run the idea of long-term contacts past the board. Members are expected to vote on the issue at a later meeting.
At Lyons Township High School, officials say they do not have much of a choice for school bus contractors, referring to First Student as “the only game in town.”
Like most schools, Lyons Township has endured big bus cost increases in recent years.
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