The Ames School Board updated its contract with the school district’s bus operator during its meeting on Monday.

The changes to the district’s contract with First Student Inc., which is based in Cincinnati, include payment for a minimum number of operating days, an increase in transportation rates and clarifications of responsibility for vandalism costs.

The district will now guarantee payment for 169 service days, regardless of school or activity cancellations. The update requires the contractor to pay bus drivers and monitors regardless of transportation cancellations, according to the contract. On the fourth instance of a “Non-Transportation Day” of a school year, the contractor will provide paid training to bus drivers and monitors.

“There will be days that we’re going to have to pay, but we want [the contractors] to guarantee payment to their staff,” said Sherri Ruzek, the district’s business official. “Then if we’re paying [the contractors], we want their staff to be able to do some professional development for that pay. So that was kind of like they want payment. Our side was, let’s provide them with some (professional development). … We wanted something for our money.”

The new contract also increases transportation rates by 2.7%, effective July 1. The new daily rate for regular service of at least six hours of service time is $493.

The district will be responsible for acquiring and paying for liability insurance. Any vandalism or damage will be the responsibility of the First Student, but the district will assist in obtaining restitution if damages are caused by Ames students or staff.

The amendment passed unanimously.

The district approved its original contract with First Student in March 2025.

Disposal of obsolete instruments

The board approved the disposal of three dozen orchestra instruments. The cost to repair has been deemed greater than the cost to buy new instruments.

“It is unlikely the prospective resale value of these instruments would cover the administrative costs incurred to facilitate the resale.” Ruzek wrote in the meeting agenda.

Instruments that may be repairable will be donated to Mike McEniry, the former band director for Mason City public schools, for a service project that aims to establish a music program in Haiti.

In other business

• The CogAT test for identifying talented and gifted students will only be administered to second-grade students this year, unlike in the past when it was given to multiple grade levels.
• The state-mandated civics test, required for student graduation, will be implemented at Ames High School this year. A student can take it multiple times a year and must only pass it once.
• A small sinkhole appeared north of Ames High School after recent heavy rains. It was caused by a decommissioned storm sewer line. The contractor originally hired to cap the line is repairing it at no cost.
• Next time: The next board meeting is 5:30 p.m. Aug. 10