New bus company to shuttle students

0 Comments | La Crosse Tribune, Nov 23, 2002 | by Mercer, Anastasia

JoAnn Grimsled loves being a school bus driver in the La Crosse School District for Laidlaw Inc.

She volunteers to help teachers supervise students during school field trips even though she's not getting paid. One Halloween, she gave "Goosebumps" books to every child on her route. It's the highlight of her day when a student leaves her a little note.

"I know my kids, I know my parents, I know my route and I love it," Grimsled said. "I've got the best boss I've ever had in my whole life. It's the first job I've had where I don't call in sick."

But Grimsled and other Laidlaw drivers are worried about their job security and the safety of La Crosse children who are bused to school. The La Crosse School District is changing its busing contract after 17 years with Laidlaw. A new company, 3 Rivers Bus Service, will begin providing service July 1.

"My children are asking questions, and my parents are asking questions," said Laidlaw driver Susan Booker. "We don't know what's going on."

Woody Wiedenhoeft, associate superintendent of business services for the' La Crosse School District, said the change in providers is not related to any dissatisfaction with Laidlaw drivers or the service the company provides.

The district worked with Laidlaw for two years to try to renegotiate its contract because the district thought the price was too high, Wiedenhoeft said. School officials decided to request proposals from other companies this fall after Laidlaw refused to "make progress" in that area, he said.

Under the La Crosse School Board's governing style, contract decisions are made by administrators and do not need board approval. Wiedenhoeft said the board was informed during the process.

The district received three proposals, and each was broken down into cost per day for regular buses, special education buses, co-curricular buses and other items. Laidlaw was the most expensive at $152.80 per regular and special education bus; Ready Bus Line of La Crescent, Minn., came in next at $150 per bus; and 3 Rivers Bus Service of Onalaska, Wis., was least expensive at $133 per bus.

The district currently pays $141.50 per bus.

Wiedenhoeft said after the proposals were received, the district visited terminals and reviewed safety records, training requirements and use of technology, among other things. Because 3 Rivers Bus Service does not yet exist, officials visited the Richland Center, Wis., and Marshfield, Wis., bus companies owned by 3 Rivers owner, Don Zimmerman of Onalaska.

Wiedenhoeft said 3 Rivers Bus Service was chosen after the district determined all three bidding compa nies offered quality service with proven safety records. The district will save about $1 million during the five-year contract period, he said.

"The last criteria was the cost part," Wiedenhoeft said. "(But) we certainly have to pay attention to cost or contract things once those (safety and other issues) are resolved. The price tag does matter to the taxpayer."

Wiedenhoeft said Laidlaw later offered to meet the 3 Rivers Bus Service price, but by that time, it was too late.

"Otherwise, it would have disrespected the process," he said. "Laidlaw has done excellent work for the school district of La Crosse for 17 years."

Zimmerman, who is also president of the Onalaska School Board, said, he has been in the bus service business since 1979 and operates 125 buses in the Wisconsin cities of Richland Center, Marshfield, Cazenovia and Durand.

He has ordered new buses for 3 Rivers Bus Service - it will bring his fleet close to 200 - and is in the process of selecting a terminal site within La Crosse School District boundaries, he said.

Zimmerman said he will "exactly" match the salar ies and benefits being paid to Laidlaw drivers who want to transition to the new company. He said drivers can even continue driving their same routes.

"Any bus driver who wants to work for 3 Rivers is going to be employed by 3 Rivers," he said. "I have no problem with seniority being the same, It will just be a matter of leaving the bus at Laidlaw and coming over to 3 Rivers."

Zimmerman said anyone with questions about the new company is invited to attend information sessions Dec. 3 and Dec. 11. Applications will be accepted for bus drivers, mechanics and office staff, he said.

"I know they will be pleased with the type of operation I run," he said. "We're a very people-friendly company."

Gary Antoniewicz, Laidlaw manager in La Crosse, said the La Crosse terminal will remain open because the company has a number of other area contracts. He is working to make sure the drivers who want to work for 3 Rivers have as smooth a transition as possible, he said.

Laidlaw Inc. has corporate headquarters in Canada and employs 95,000 people to provide school and inter-city bus service, municipal transit, ambulance transportation and hospital emergency department management in the United States and Canada, according to its Web site.

"I just feel bad that we did lose it (the contract)," Antoniewiez said. "I'm going to miss a lot of people."