WENDELL — The only matter slated to be considered at the Jan. 31 Special Town Meeting is the proposed five-year contract with F.M. Kuzmeskus for school transportation services.

As this is the result of a collective bid involving several school districts, an identical article will appear on the warrants of other Special Town Meetings, including Erving on Jan. 31 and New Salem on Feb. 1. The issue must go before voters in towns that pay for school transportation.

“This is not the most exciting thing, but it’s something we had to do on a certain timeframe,” explained Wendell Town Coordinator Glenn Johnson-Mussad, adding that the vote is required by early February at the latest.

The Special Town Meeting in Wendell is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. in Town Hall.

Caitlin Sheridan, director of finance and operations at Erving School Union 28, explained the F.M. Kuzmeskus bid was the only one received. She said Wendell and New Salem will each have two buses transporting students to and from Swift River School in New Salem. Each of the two towns will contribute $173,376.

Sheridan mentioned this bid is higher than the previous contract, also with F.M. Kuzmeskus, due mostly to a nationwide bus driver shortage and increased fuel costs. She said the increase is 11.9% for the first year and then it fluctuates for the following four.

“But we’ll be happy to have a new contract and think about this again in five years,” she said.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.