AMES, Iowa — According to the Iowa Workforce Development website, bus drivers in Ames will be laid off in May after the Ames School Board approved a contract with another school transportation company.

Durham School Services has provided transportation services to Ames students for the last 15 years.

In March, the Ames Community School District approved a new contract with First Student, which is another school transportation company. According to the Iowa Workforce Development website, 62 Durham employees in Ames will be laid off on May 31st.

First Student provides services to other school districts in Iowa, including Ankeny and Council Bluffs. Both of these districts provided positive feedback to the Ames School Board.

This is the first time since 2015 that the district has requested proposals for transportation services. Both Durham and First Student submitted proposals.

At the school board meeting in March, school board members said their decision came down to the price tag. First Student offered a proposal that was estimated to be $1 million less than the current Durham services.

Mike Miller is a veteran bus driver in Ames who spoke during the meeting. He said, “I have been recruited last year by Gilbert, Nevada, Ballard, [and] schools down in Des Moines, because I’m a 15-year bus driver and I know how to do my job. I did not go to those schools, even though I did look at them, because I live in Ames. I want to be a bus driver here in Ames.”

Anna Lam, the External Communications Manager for Durham School Services, told WHO 13 News, “In March, we were made aware by the school district that they had chosen to move forward with a new transportation provider. All of the drivers that meet employment standards will either stay in Ames or transfer with us.”

Durham provides transportation to six other school districts in Iowa. Lam confirmed that they are not expecting layoffs at any other location.

The Ames Community School District did not respond to a request for comment.