RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. — School bus contractors in Rutherford County have been negotiating with the Board of Education (BOE) for weeks, pushing for a significant pay raise and asking for the district to take on liability insurance costs.
The Rutherford County Bus Contractors Organization (RCBCO) had been advocating for a nearly 35% pay increase for its members, but last week, the Board of Education offered a 17% raise. As negotiations continued, RCBCO representatives warned that a strike could begin as early as May 1 if an agreement was not reached. However, after ongoing talks, Dr. Jimmy Sullivan, director of Rutherford County Schools, announced that the strike had been called off, with both sides agreeing to continue negotiating.
Among the contractors involved in the dispute is Cynthia Gossett, owner of Gossett Bus Lines, which operates approximately 13 routes in Rutherford County. Unlike the majority of bus contractors in the region, Gossett is not a member of the RCBCO but has been vocal about the challenges the industry is facing.
Gossett, who has been involved with school buses since she was 16 years old, spoke with News 2 about the challenges facing contractors in the area. “It’s a great job, but the costs of running the business are rising,” Gossett said, explaining how expenses such as bus parts, driver wages, and insurance continue to climb. She pointed out that the rising cost of doing business, especially with the added financial strain of workers’ compensation and other insurance premiums, has made it increasingly difficult for contractors to operate without raising pay for drivers and securing greater financial support from the district.
In addition to advocating for higher pay, Gossett and other contractors have requested that Rutherford County Schools cover liability insurance costs, which have become an increasing burden for the contractors. “The county knows we need a raise,” Gossett noted. “They’re not, for one minute, stepping back and saying, ‘You all don’t need a raise.’”
Dr. Sullivan, who grew up in Rutherford County and relied on school buses as a student, acknowledged the importance of bus contractors to the school district. He expressed appreciation for their role and emphasized that the district values their work despite the ongoing financial challenges. “As someone who grew up in this community, riding the bus, I can personally attest to the value our bus contractors provide,” Dr. Sullivan said in a video update to the public.
While the contract negotiations have yet to reach a final resolution, the prospect of a strike has been averted for now. The Rutherford County Board of Education still faces a budget deficit, and it has proposed several potential paths forward to resolve the issue, including the idea of a parent responsibility zone (PRZ), which would have shifted some transportation costs to parents. However, after backlash from parents and local officials, the proposal appears to be on hold for at least another year.
For now, Gossett and other contractors remain hopeful that continued negotiations will result in a solution that balances the financial realities of running a bus service with the needs of the students and the district. “Negotiation is about building bridges,” Gossett said, expressing optimism that a compromise will ultimately be reached that benefits all parties involved.
