What happens to current bus drivers if transportation services are privatized?
Both companies said in their proposals that their first choices for hire would be current employees with good recommendations who pass background checks. Kellie Dean said well over half of existing employees are retained. Bonnie Bastian, a spokeswoman for First Student, said she doesn’t have specific numbers. But she said it’s a very high number because the company wants drivers who know the communities. Hill, the Traverse Bay Area ISD superintendent, said Dean hired about 50 percent of the existing employees.
