SchoolBoard2015filephotoJamestown (CSi) The Jamestown Public School Board Monday, discussed new route-based school bus contract that will emphasize efficiency.

The plan may require private schools to pay a portion of the costs for their students now riding free with the Jamestown Public School District.

Board member Gail Martin said tax-paying families will not want to be charged additional funds for the busing but the schools should share that burden as does JPS.

Jamestown Public School Board, Vice President, Heidi Larson and board member Robert Toso said an agreement nearing for a six-year bus contract with Dietrich & Sons Inc., the Valley City-based bus company that will complete its six-year JPS contract in June.

Toso said the contract amount currently being negotiated is around $525,000 per year, which is $125,000 more than the current $450,000 per year. The initial contract offer from Dietrich was around $625,000.

School Board President Roger Haut said that the contract negotiations should focus for now on keeping the same routes and negotiating the best price.

Toso said Dietrich is operating at a loss this year and the board should be aware of this as it considers the counter proposals at a special meeting in June. The bus contract task force committee would make its recommendation following the meeting with Dietrich.

The meeting was recorded by CSi 10 THE REPLAY CHANNEL with showings starting later Tuesday.