School Board continues to discuss busing in Hamilton County

Chattanooga, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Hamilton County School Board is staying quite busy.

Members met today for a third time since Thursday, discussing the district’s strategic plan, superintendent search, and transportation changes.

The board voted to add 20 owner operator buses, in addition to what’s already in place, and could add even more down the road.

Board members also approved 30 monitors for the buses, which can move depending on need.

They say their discussions are centered around safety, following November’s deadly crash.

“We are moving away from outside bus service to more locally controlled bus service,” says Hamilton County School Board member David Testerman.

“We feel like they have really strong safety records, and we’re trying to emphasize the positive. We are hoping to get people who know the communities, who know the children. And some of the Durham drivers have too. And we want to encourage the good Durham drivers to stay with their routes,” says Hamilton County School Board Chairman Steve Highlander.

Highlander says current drivers will be looked at first to become bus owners and operators.

These independent drivers will also have a chance to buy an additional bus or buses.