HANSON - June 24, 2026 - The Whitman-Hanson Regional School Committee voted unanimously to award a five-year, $10,446,233.10 student transportation contract to NRT, a move projected to save the district approximately $152,000 against its general fund budget in the first year alone. The committee also established an updated timeline for Interim Superintendent Dr. John Marcus’s formal evaluation, extending the internal submission deadline to July 30th to navigate state-mandated reporting systems without penalizing the district.
The Full Story
The meeting opened with a priority vote on student transportation following a highly competitive bidding process. Interim Business Manager Matt Wells reported that the district received two qualifying bids from NRT and current provider First Student. The total financial variance between the two providers over the full five-year duration of the contract was remarkably slim, coming in at just under $1,900.
NRT secured the contract with a first-year operational cost of $1,928,652.80. Because some athletic and extracurricular transportation costs are paid through separate non-general funds, Wells highlighted that the baseline general fund impact for the upcoming fiscal year sits roughly $152,000 below original budgetary projections. Committee members welcomed the variance, noting it provides a helpful financial buffer as the district transitions to a new vendor.
The shift in vendors prompted safety and continuity questions from the committee. Member Christopher Marks noted that NRT recently won the transit contract for neighboring Abington and raised concerns regarding community social media chatter about the company’s standards. Wells reassured the body that the Invitation for Bids (IFP) was exceptionally strict. The document builds in clear oversight mechanisms, granting district administrators the authority to conduct unannounced bus inspections at any time and demand immediate remedies for any safety infractions.
