School Bus Transportation Contract Bidding

Concerns over the school bus transportation contract bidding process first surfaced publicly during the April 30, 2026 school committee meeting.

Multiple residents and union representatives highlighted potential inaccuracies in NRT's low bid, including failure to account for Weymouth's complex routes involving out-of-district students and extended hours.

Speakers also warned of risks to labor stability if a new contractor did not honor existing Teamsters agreements, which could lead to loss of experienced drivers and service disruptions.

Additional comments pointed to possible deficiencies in the Invitation for Bid specifications regarding route hours and late runs, suggesting the committee possessed authority to cancel and re-bid.

At the June 4, 2026 meeting, a Teamsters Local 653 representative formally requested an addendum mandating that all bidders honor current wages and benefits to ensure a level playing field.

The committee acknowledged the request and noted the bid opening scheduled for June 22 but took no immediate action on the proposed addendum.

No competing positions supporting the current bid process without modifications were presented in the meetings.

At the June 25, 2026 school committee meeting, the five-year home-to-school transportation contract was awarded to First Student after NRT withdrew from the re-bid process, leaving it as the sole bidder. The committee accepted the $16.6 million contract unanimously.