SARATOGA SPRINGS — At an April 25 2024-2025 budget adoption meeting, the Saratoga Springs Board of Education discussed proposed cuts to the district’s transportation department.
During the first public comment period, Dean Musgrove, a bus dispatcher, spoke in opposition to the cuts. “It’s really going to do a lot of damage to our department and I don’t think you realize the extent of it,” Musgrove said.
Bob Cohan, a substitute bus driver, echoed Musgrove’s sentiments. “It’s one of the lowest paying school jobs for people, and why you go after us is beyond me,” he said.
A prior budget presentation on March 28 suggested that two full-time transportation department positions could be eliminated: a bus mechanic and a bus dispatcher. The district is not planning on cutting any driver positions.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Patton said there had been “significant sacrifices” this year in order to achieve a balanced budget. “We truly appreciate the feedback that we do receive from transportation,” he said. “Mr. Musgrove and I had several conversations.”
Dr. Patton said he would meet with transportation staff next Tuesday and had regularly been in touch with the department’s director. Dr. Patton also said that other similarly-sized school districts had fewer dispatchers and routing specialists than Saratoga Springs.
During the second public comment period, Musgrove said that on the morning of April 25, two dispatchers and three mechanics had to drive school buses to cover for five drivers. In the afternoon, Musgrove said that two bus runs needed to be canceled despite three dispatchers, three mechanics, and the transportation department’s assistant director all pitching in to cover for bus drivers.
“I have a hard time understanding why $180,000 can’t be located to cover these two positions that you’re talking about cutting,” Musgrove said. “Even though they’re not technically driver positions, they are actually drivers.”
Education Board member Amanda Ellithorpe said she felt for the transportation department.
“I’ve been there,” she said. “I get it. I didn’t like having to make the decision tonight.”
Now that the board has adopted the 2024-2025 budget, a budget hearing will take place on May 9, followed by a budget vote on May 21.
