By Todd Wineburner/WJEZ Morning Show

In a special meeting last night, the Pontiac District 429 school board approved a three-year agreement with Illinois Central Bus Company. Earlier this year, negotiations broke down between Illinois Central and a five-school group that included both Dwight districts, both Pontiac districts and Saunemin District 438. The Dwight schools pulled out of that original arrangement, and Illinois Central offered another proposal to the remaining three districts. District 429 Superintendent Dale Adams says the modified offer has some real advantages. “The rates will translate into less than what we paid in the 2013-2014 school year for the next two years, and year three will be about 13 or 14 thousand dollar increase over that,” Adams said after the vote. “So much more manageable numbers, much more realistic, I think, for the school district.” Pontiac’s District 90 school board has already approved the deal. It will go into effect provided the Saunemin school board gives its approval.

In other action, the board went into closed session to interview a candidate for the school board seat vacated when Dale Larson stepped down. The board will announce its decision about that seat in its regular meeting later this month.