Bus company cut out of summer-school mix in St. Paul

The St. Paul school district has rejected a bus company's bid for summertime work after it failed to deliver on expanded duties this school year.

Minnesota Central School Bus began 2012-13 with high hopes, having seen its contracted routes jump from two a year ago to 84 at the start of September.

But the company had a rough first day of school, and would see the district steer about one-third of its routes elsewhere and levy $39,465 in fines against a contract now worth about $3.6 million.

Michael Baumann, district deputy of schools and business operations, said Wednesday that the company's performance was "marginally better" after the route reduction, but still not up to district standards.

A company spokesman could not be reached for comment.

In a written recommendation to school board members Tuesday, district administrators noted that while Minnesota Central School Bus handled 18 percent of district routes, it was responsible for nearly half of district-wide performance issues that included missed routes and delays of 20 minutes or more.

The board authorized contracts with five companies in a vote that specifically excluded Minnesota Central School Bus from the summer transportation mix.

At one elementary school, students had to wait 2 1/2 hours at day's end on the first day of school.

Although its bid for summer work was rejected, Minnesota Central School Bus still could submit a proposal for the 2013-14 school year, Baumann said. The administration would wait until bids are received before making a recommendation, he added.

The district is expected to award next year's bus contracts sometime this summer.