In Tuolumne County, school transportation is more than a ride—it’s often what makes daily attendance possible. When routes run consistently, students arrive ready to learn, families can plan their mornings, and schools can maintain strong routines.

That’s why four Tuolumne County districts—Curtis Creek Elementary, Jamestown Elementary, Sonora Elementary, and Sonora Union High School District—launched Shared Services Tuolumne County Transportation, a collaborative approach designed to strengthen staffing, improve coordination, and deliver dependable service for students across the county.

The idea was initiated in 2022, followed by a two-year collaborative study and planning process. The shared transportation model was first implemented in the 2024–2025 school year, with the official launch in early January 2025.

In its first year, Shared Services achieved a milestone families can feel: zero cancelled home-to-school routes.

“Reliable transportation is one of the most practical ways we support students and families—especially in a rural county,” said Ed Pelfrey, Superintendent of Sonora Union High School District. “This first year proved what’s possible when districts work together with a shared focus on kids: consistent service and families who can count on the bus being there.”

What the shared model changed

Shared Services was built to improve reliability and student service at a time when many school systems have faced driver shortages. The model includes:

• Improved reliability through shared staffing supports and better use of fleet resources
   
• Student-focused routes, including separate routes for elementary and high school students
   
• Aligned schedules, including staggered start times that support dedicated service for elementary students and align with high school start-time requirements

What made the rollout work: aligned leadership and strong labor partnership

Shared Services is a countywide collaboration, and leaders say the program’s successful rollout depended on people working together across systems. District leaders from Curtis Creek Elementary, Jamestown Elementary, Sonora Elementary, and Sonora Union High School District coordinated closely to align schedules, clarify responsibilities, and problem-solve quickly as the model launched.

Equally important was collaboration with the classified union chapters across the participating districts. That partnership helped support a smoother transition by ensuring operational decisions—ranging from staffing plans and schedules to day-to-day procedures—were communicated clearly and addressed in a way that supported employees and reliable service for families.

Why reliability matters in a rural county

“In a rural county, many families don’t have easy alternatives for getting students to school,” said Donna Mittry, Transportation Director for Sonora Union High School District. “When staffing was tight in prior years, routes were sometimes cancelled because there simply weren’t enough drivers. This year, families told us it was a huge relief to have consistent, dependable service they could count on.”

Partner district perspective: stability that becomes the standard

“The fact that students and parents can rely on our service every day is a huge accomplishment,” said Shawn Posey, Superintendent of Curtis Creek Elementary School District. “It’s been so seamless for students that they hardly noticed it—because it simply worked.”

What families shared

In January 2026, a School Transportation Survey was distributed to all families in the four participating school districts. Responses indicated strong family satisfaction with the transportation program. Respondents most often highlighted reliability, safety, and appreciation for drivers and staff as key strengths.

Restoring trust—and continuing to improve

Project consultant Ryan Hahn, Principal Consultant and Owner of Strategic School Consultants, said reliability and trust were central to the work.

“When routes had to be cancelled in the past, families lost trust,” Hahn said. “This work succeeds because the people behind it care about kids and do what it takes to make sure students get where they need to be.”

Superintendent Pelfrey added, “We’re grateful to our transportation team and partner districts for what they accomplished in year one—and we’re focused on continuing to strengthen service and communication in year two and beyond.”

Learn more on the Transportation web page.

Questions / bus stop request: transportation@sonorahigh.org or (209) 532-5511 ext. 2.

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(Above) A Shared Services Tuolumne County Transportation bus serves students across participating districts as part of the countywide transportation partnership.

 

 

 

 

 

(Above) Donna Mittry, Sonora Union High School District Transportation Director, reads a bus safety book to elementary students during a Shared Services Tuolumne County Transportation safety presentation.

 

 

 

 

 

(Above) Transportation staff participate in the annual Shared Services Tuolumne County Transportation driver in-service, which supports training, coordination, and consistent service for students and families across participating districts.