Brainerd School Board Approves 1-Year Contract with Reichert Bus Service

The Brainerd School District will be transporting kids in the area through Reichert Bus Service for the 2025-26 school year. School board members approved the contract agreement with the bus company in a 5-1 vote last week during a special board meeting.

The agreement with Reichert is cutting two bus routes from the 2024-25 contract, but the cost has increased by $5,000 this year. While board member John Ward cited concerns with those points and asked to table the discussion from the meeting, the school board opted for a one-year contract with Reichert as opposed to another two-year deal.

“Reichert wanted a two-year contract and we only want to do one because we are not really sure what our budget decisions are going to be going into [the] 26-27 [school year],” explained Brainerd Public Schools Superintendent Peter Grant. “We don’t know if we’re going to change something in our busing, maybe go to two miles out that you walk or something like that. We’re down students; the routes should be following that type of transition.”

The Brainerd School Board’s next meeting will take place September 22.