SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Texas School Bus Agency Begins Shutdown Process

Dallas County Schools, which has faced financial hurdles and controversy in recent years, is ending operations after voters chose on Nov. 7 to shut it down.

Nicole Schlosser
Nicole SchlosserFormer Executive Editor
November 17, 2017
3 min to read


DALLAS — A school bus agency here that has faced financial hurdles and controversy in recent years is shutting down after operating for more than a century, NBC DFW reports.

Dallas County voters chose on Nov. 7 to shut down Dallas County Schools (DCS), which, as previously reported, has struggled with reports of financial problems, questionable business dealings, and complaints from school districts on the agency’s performance.

Business deals reportedly have left the agency $130 million in debt and caused an FBI investigation, according to NBC DFW. An analysis that the news source reports was withheld by the former administrators of DCS but was recently released to NBC 5 Investigates suggests that agency officials may have made false statements while trying to market stop-arm cameras to school districts, and that the timing of campaign donations made to some elected DCS officials falls in conjunction with contract awards.

The agency posted a statement on its website after the vote last week, noting that the majority of the 6.5% of Dallas County residents who voted opted to end DCS operations after the 2017-18 school year, and that although staff members are “disheartened with the outcome,” they are thankful for the support they received.

The statement also said that the agency “remains dedicated to serving the students, parents, and districts in and around Dallas County for as long as we have the opportunity to do so. We wish the school districts the best and will do everything we can to assist with a smooth transition.”

Work has begun on phasing out DCS: A dissolution committee replaced the agency’s board of directors on Wednesday. One task will be deciding how to parcel out DCS’s more than 1,000 buses that served area school districts, according to NBC DFW. Some of the agency’s board members expressed concern for bus drivers and other employees due to potential pay and benefit cuts. Gloria Levario, the outgoing board president, told the news source that some employees will probably lose their jobs.

Meanwhile, bus drivers for the agency voiced their concerns at the final meeting held by DCS trustees and interim superintendent Gary Lindsey, The Dallas Morning News reports. DCS drivers also want the dissolution committee, which includes the superintendents of the nine school districts that the agency has served, to assure them that they will not lose pay or benefits or have to reapply for their jobs if a private company takes over transportation, according to the newspaper.

Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Michael Hinojosa has attempted to reassure drivers for his district that they will be paid through the end of the school year and will be needed regardless of what happens, The Dallas Morning News reports.

More Management

An orange and white graphic with HopSkipDrive's logo and text reading "Districts Adjusts to Persistent Driver Shortages."
Managementby Elora HaynesAugust 12, 2026

Have School Districts Adapted to Bus Driver Shortages or Simply Accepted Less Service?

According to a recent report from HopSkipDrive, many districts appear to have recalibrated what "normal" transportation service looks like.

Read More →
A blue and white graphic with text reading "The Ripple Effect of a Reliable Ride."
Managementby Elora HaynesAugust 12, 2026

Reliable Transportation Linked to Better Student Outcomes, New EverDriven Study Finds

See why new research suggests transportation consistency improves student outcomes while influencing attendance, funding, IEP compliance, and family trust.

Read More →
A close-up side view of a yellow Switzer-CARTY school bus parked in a bus yard, with the contractor's name displayed on the side panel and additional school buses visible in the background.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseAugust 7, 2026

Switzer-CARTY Enters the U.S. with New Acquisition

The Canadian contractor’s acquisition of Minnesota-based Agnes Corporation marks its first cross-border expansion into the United States and adds 350 vehicles.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Students wearing backpacks line up to board a yellow school bus, each holding an NFC-enabled student ID card to scan as they enter. The image illustrates student ridership tracking technology that records boarding activity in real time.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseAugust 6, 2026

BusRight Adds New Rider Tracking Technology

Safety Pass is an NFC-based student ridership tracking solution that provides real-time boarding and drop-off data to improve school bus safety and family communication.

Read More →
A red and white image of someone holding a cell phone with text reading "EverDriven Launches RideAware App With Student Ride Visibility."
Managementby Staff and News ReportsAugust 5, 2026

EverDriven Launches RideAware App With Real-Time Student Ride Visibility

The updated platform’s new features improve communication among caregivers, districts, and drivers while streamlining trip updates.

Read More →
Students boarding a school bus with text reading "New Riders, Strong Starts. Help every student feel confident on day one."
Managementby Elora HaynesAugust 5, 2026

How School Transportation Departments Can Help Acclimate New Riders to the Bus

Here's how transportation departments can turn first-day jitters into confidence for students and parents alike.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Multiple generations of the Kobussen family posing in front of a school bus.
ManagementAugust 3, 2026

Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Nearly 90 Years of Safely Transporting Wisconsin Students

From one farmer's act of service to a fourth-generation family business, Kobussen Buses reflects on nearly 90 years of earning the trust of Wisconsin families.

Read More →
Graphic for School Bus Fleet's "Changing Lanes" July 2026 personnel roundup featuring headshots of six industry professionals: Jamie Smith (AMF Buns), Dan Strock (Pro-Vision), Kyndra Webb (HopSkipDrive Council), Jared Schnader (CALSTART), Alycia Gilde (CALSTART), and Micah Enterz (Kooner Fleet Management Solutions), displayed on an orange geometric background.
Managementby StaffJuly 31, 2026

Changing Lanes: AMF Bruns, Pro-Vision, CALSTART, HopSkipDrive, & Kooner

Check out who's been hired, promoted, and appointed to leadership positions at various school transportation industry suppliers and nonprofits.

Read More →
Promo graphic for the 18th National Congress on School Transportation, featuring a conference audience background and text reading “May 4–6, 2029, St. Louis, Missouri,” alongside the NCST logo.
Managementby Staff and News ReportsJuly 29, 2026

NCST Announces 18th Congress Event Dates, New Committees

The National Congress on School Transportation moves to St. Louis in May 2029, convening delegates and industry representatives to discuss new best practice recommendations. Now, the new committee chairs have been named.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Two school buses parked in front of the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum in Denver.
Managementby Amanda HuggettJuly 28, 2026

Key Moments from the 2026 NSTA Annual Meeting in the Mile High City

From federal policy updates and OEM presentations to speed networking and industry awards, see photos and highlights from the contractor association’s summer conference in Denver.

Read More →