JEFFERSON TWP — More than 75 bus drivers, parents, students and others showed up at Wednesday night's South Butler School Board meeting to show their support for one of the two contractors who will likely transport students in the next school year.

The district has contracted with W.L. Roenigk for school bus service for the past 16 years. That contract expires at the end of the school year, and many parents and Roenigk drivers have implored the school board to retain the company.

However, ABC Transit of Etna is also interested in contracting with the district. At last month's school board meeting, some board members said they want to keep Roenigk while others agreed to listen to ABC's proposal as well.

On Wednesday, seven people in the crowd that packed the Knoch Middle School library shared their feelings on the subject.

Paula Scott, one of several Roenigk employees who wore their bright yellow bus driver T-shirts to the meeting, said the company would negotiate with the board to remain the transportation company at South Butler.

Scott told the board that the drivers know and care about the students on their buses.

Parent Nick Flanders agreed with Scott. “My kids' safety means a lot to me and I would really like to see Roenigk continue with us forever,”

Flanders said. “I don't see a need to bring in an outside company.”

Christian Baker, a parent and former substitute teacher in the district, told the board she sent a thank-you letter to Roenigk supervisors after her child's driver called her when she was stuck in traffic and not home when the bus rolled up after school. “I feel comfortable every single day putting my daughter on that bus,” said Baker. “There are some drivers here tonight who go above and beyond every day.”

Her child's driver also made the Baker family a sign at her own expense warning drivers speeding down Route 228 East to slow down for students.

When she was a substitute teacher at South Butler, Baker recalled Roenigk drivers alerting her if a child was sick, upset or overwhelmed.

Tim Denehy, supported board members on Wednesday night by explaining that the school board cares about its students, but also must care about finances.

Finally Todd O'Shell, vice president of operations at ABC Transit, addressed the board. O'Shell was the school board secretary at South Butler from 1991 to 2009. O'Shell said ABC Transit formed in 2013. He said ABC employs drivers who live in the school district where they transport students, and that many top administrators in the company live in the district.

O'Shell said the company's founder was involved in the district's transportation contract in 2002, when the former long-term bus company was replaced by Roenigk. ABC serves Pittsburgh Public Schools, the Fox Chapel, Hampton, Riverview, Shaler and other districts.

He urged the board to accept a presentation from the company, which it agreed to do at last month's meeting.

“With a $13 million to $14 million contract at stake, we'd be happy to discuss how to minimize that expense,” O'Shell said.

The school board did not discuss the bus situation Wednesday, but Matt Cimbala, board president, thanked the audience for attending and sharing their feelings in a positive way.