MCMINVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Dozens of bus drivers and associated employees in Warren County may be out of a job by this summer after the local school district decided to switch transportation providers.
That's according to a message from district leaders and a WARN Notice shared by Durham School Services last week. The WARN Notice says that effective June 5, 79 workers will be impacted by a "permanent closure."
Workers received notices of the upcoming closure on Thursday, per the document. However, the school district said the affected workers will have a chance to work for their new transportation provider.
Warren County Schools confirmed on Tuesday to WSMV4 that it does not plan to renew its expiring contract with Durham School Services and will instead move forward with Ecco Ride, LLC.
On March 26, the Warren County Board of Education discussed a school transportation contract with the Alabama-based ground transportation company, per the meeting agenda.
"Warren County Schools can confirm that, anticipating the expiration of our current contract with Durham School Services, the district followed established procurement procedures and issued a Request for Proposals for student transportation services," said a statement from a district spokesperson. "After bids were received and reviewed, the lowest bid was submitted by Ecco-Ride. The Warren County Board of Education recommended the Ecco-ride bid to Warren County Government, and the county approved the contract."
Durham School Services (DSS) will continue providing transportation services through June 30, and then on July 1, Ecco Ride will take over, per WCS.
DSS wrote messages on Facebook encouraging its employees and residents to oppose the switch in providers, citing its 15-year-long work with the district. WSMV4 has requested a comment from the California-founded organization.
The Middle Tennessee school district noted that Ecco Ride is "required to offer positions to all qualified Durham employees."
"The company has already begun that process and recently hosted a successful onboarding event for drivers at the district's Learning & Leadership Center," said an email from the WCS communications coordinator.
The Ecco Ride website says it has been "providing some of the best school bus service in North America" for more than 75 years.
"Our team of professionals can save public and private school systems money by outsourcing their student transportation services, and still providing the safe transportation that parents want for their children," the website says.