BOZEMAN — The Bozeman Public Schools superintendent says the school district did not miss or decide not to make a payment with district’s bus company, First Student.
It’s a situation that started when Bozeman school bus drivers claimed the district was the only district in the state that didn’t pay its drivers after issues with COVID started.
During a meeting two weeks ago, the school board voted to cancel bus routes, which bus drivers say meant that the school wouldn’t pay First Student.
Drivers then feared they would not get paid over the course of four weeks.
Superintendent Bob Connors addressed the issue directly this week through a video update.
"If First Student has not paid their employees, it has nothing to do with their receipts from us or the cash flow or anything else," Connors says. "It's an internal decision on their part. We have not missed a payment to First Student. Our next payment is due April 5th and a payment will be made at this time."
Connors did say that the school district is in “good faith” negotiations with First Student now.