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Transportation firm cuts 357 jobs in Denton and Tarrant counties after losing school bus contract

Northwest ISD voted in late April to begin handling its own transportation.

A Dallas-based transportation company will cut 357 jobs in Denton and Tarrant counties after losing a school bus contract with Northwest ISD.

In a letter to the Texas Workforce Commission, Reliant Transportation Inc. said the jobs will be eliminated over a two-week period, beginning May 29, in Justin and Haslet. It cited an “unanticipated termination of our contract by [a] client.”

In late April, Northwest ISD voted to end its contract with Reliant Transportation and bring busing services in-house, according to Community Impact. School district leaders said they are taking over previously outsourced services to save money as a result of cuts to its annual budget by state legislators.

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Assistant superintendent Tim McClure estimated the district could save $3 million or more a year by providing its own transportation, Community Impact reported.

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At 234 square miles, Northwest ISD is one of the most expansive school districts in Dallas-Fort Worth, spanning three counties and 14 municipalities. It operates 19 elementary schools, six middle schools and four high schools serving more than 25,000 students.

Reliant Transportation, a subsidiary of MV Transportation Inc., won the contract in 2018 to take students on 170 daily routes as well as school activities, field trips and sporting events.

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MV is one of the largest privately owned passenger transportation services firms in North America and works with school districts nationwide. Its revenue exceeded $1.3 billion in 2018, according to its website.