This browser does not support the Video element.
Eight Dallas County school districts are now working to figure out how they will provide bus services for their students after voters gave the ax to the unusual government agency known as Dallas County Schools.
Approximately 58 percent of voters wanted to get rid of the bus agency after it came under fire for getting kids to school late and questionable business deals.
School districts will need to come up with a new way to get kids to school by the start of the school year next fall. Dallas ISD expects the move will cost more for the first year, but in the long run will save taxpayers money.
After 100 years of getting kids to and from school, Dallas County Schools will soon be hitting the breaks.
"I want to assure the bus drivers and dispatchers and employees of DCS that they have a position,” explained DISD Superintendent Mike Hinojosa.
Bus drivers seemed to get that. Attendance on Wednesday was as usual.
"We had one call,” said Hinojosa. “That call was from a bus driver. ‘Do I still have a job?’"
School districts will have until the start of next school year to figure out if they will run their own buses, outsource their transportation or team up with other districts.
Hinojosa, who supported dissolving Dallas County Schools, says DISD will run its own buses.
"We think after the one-time costs are handled, the taxpayers are going to be better off,” the superintendent said.
Hinojosa said in recent years he was getting countless complaints about the bus service.
A spokesman for Richardson ISD said they also recently had issues with kids being dropped off late.
"Some of that was operation,” said Chris Moore with Richardson ISD. “Some was a shortage of drivers."
The district is now trying to decide if it should manage transportation on its own or outsource.
Dallas County homeowners will continue to see that penny tax for Dallas County Schools likely for years to come. The money will now be going to pay off the agency's debt.
Dallas County Schools said in a statement that they will do everything they can to assist in a smooth transition.