NILES — Nearly 30 bus drivers in Niles could soon be without a job.

The Niles School Board is facing a major budget shortfall next school year. To save money, the district voted to privatize bus service — something it's considered for more than a year.

The school board unanimously passed the proposal at their meeting at Ballard Elementary School Monday night.

A lot of people were expected to show up, including all 28 bus drivers and several concerned parents.

The board says privatizing will help save the district a significant amount money. But drivers say it shouldn't be about dollars and cents.

After driving the same bus route for 18 years, Leona Wonacott has become a familiar face.

"You go to festivals, you go grocery shopping, and there's Johnny: ‘Hi Leona!’” she said.

But Leona is one of 28 familiar faces that could soon be replaced with new faces.

"And I just think it's sad that some of us may not have jobs anymore,” said bus driver Pat Wozniak.

The Niles School Board voted to privatize their bus service through a company called First Students.

Superintendent Doug Law says this is one of many ways to help make up the district's $1 million shortfall for next school year.

“Companies like First Students can now come in and present us with a bid that offers exactly the same service,” he told WSBT News. “We’re not cutting routes. We’re doing exactly same number of buses and everything. The difference becomes in that fringe benefits package.”

The bus drivers' union fought the privatization by offering a concessions package that would save the district $150,000 each year for the next three years.

But the school board tossed out that idea.

“The drivers cannot compete very effectively with a promise of over a $2 million savings over a five-year period,” Law explained.

Drivers say they're not just fighting for their jobs; they're fighting to keep the kids safe.

"You know if there's not the right cars there, you don't let that child off,” Wonacott said. “You call to find out if the child should be let off or not."

But the school board says they’ve made several reference checks on First Students.

“Every single one of them said that safety was outstanding,” Law said. “And that’s an important thing for the board.”

Law says the new company will interview all the current drivers. They can't all be guaranteed a job, but Law says generally in this type of situation, 80-90 percent of the drivers will be rehired.