On Tuesday, the Marion County School Board voted against privatizing their transit system.

The school board is renegotiating it's contract with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), the union that represents their 400 bus drivers and 800 other support personnel including janitors, and cafeteria workers.

According to Superintendent Jim Yancey, the idea is still a possibility. If drivers don't want to be working for a private company next year, union members will have to vote yes for the proposal that's on the table with the school board-- one that includes a guarantee of no privatization for three years.

The move was said to save the county more than $2.5 million dollars each year during the 5 year contract.

IUPAT representatives stated their benefits could be cut and drivers may lose their jobs.

The CEO of Student Tranportation of America, who received the Superintendant's recommendation, told TV20 in a recent interview that no current bus drivers would lose their jobs or benefits.

To read STA's full proposal to the Marion County School District, copy and paste this link:
http://www.marion.k12.fl.us/district/board/agendas/July%2026,%202011%20School%20Board%20Meeting%20on%20Tuesday,%20July%2026,%202011/4AB165B2-E4B5-4EF2-81DA-2ACAA6CF01AE.pdf