"Hopefully we can deal with it with $25 million, but at the very worst, I think that we need to be able to show that we can provide as much service as we can, and show a plan over years," said BOE member Wesley Lo.

Meanwhile, the DOE has hired the consulting firm Management Partnerships Services Inc. for $109,000 to come up with recommendations on how to improve the bus program for students.

The company expects to issue a draft report by the end of October, with the final report due November 15.

"The scope is pretty wide, and it's going to look at the transportation requirements as a whole," said L'Heureux.