The Bethlehem Area School District Board of School Directors approved a proposed transportation contract agreement with Teamsters Local No. 773 on Sept. 8, but union members rejected the proposal in a Sept. 10 vote.

The district and the union have been negotiating a new transportation contract since November 2025, holding more than a dozen bargaining and working-group meetings. After negotiations stalled, the district requested an independent fact-finding process through the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.

District officials said the board reviewed the fact-finder’s report and approved the proposed agreement despite disagreeing with some recommendations, citing the interests of students, transportation employees and taxpayers.

“Our transportation employees are valued members of the BASD team, and we appreciate the important work they do each day to safely transport our students,” Superintendent Renato M. Lajara said in a statement. “We remain committed to working collaboratively toward a resolution.”

Both sides have until Sept. 21 to reconsider their votes. If no agreement is reached, they will return to the bargaining table and continue the collective bargaining process.

The district said student transportation services will continue to operate on a normal schedule during negotiations and that it will make the fact-finding report and most recent collective bargaining agreement available to the public.

BASD serves more than 12,000 students in 22 schools across Bethlehem, Bethlehem Township, Hanover Township, Freemansburg and Fountain Hill.

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