School board approves 14 new buses to enhance transportation fleet

The South Western City School District Board of Education convened on February 10, 2025, for a pre-visioning session focused on transportation and technology updates within the district.

The meeting began with a detailed discussion on the district's bus fleet management. The board previously approved the purchase of 14 new school buses, in addition to two replacement buses acquired through insurance claims. The district operates a fleet of approximately 210 buses, maintaining around 30 spare buses to ensure continuous operations during repairs and maintenance. The lifespan of a school bus is estimated at 14 years, leading to an annual replacement cycle of about 14 buses, although this number may vary based on specific needs, including special education requirements and bus types.

A significant shift in the district's bus procurement strategy was highlighted, with a move towards gasoline buses due to their lower maintenance costs compared to diesel buses. Over the past five years, the cost of purchasing a bus has increased by approximately $30,000, prompting the district to work closely with the permanent improvement funds to sustain a serviceable fleet.

The meeting also addressed advancements in technology, particularly the StopFinder application used by parents to track their children's bus routes. The district reported improvements in the app's performance, with only one recorded outage in January, which was an individual issue rather than a system-wide failure. Currently, over 7,000 users are subscribed to StopFinder, indicating strong engagement from the community.

In conclusion, the session underscored the district's commitment to maintaining an efficient transportation system while enhancing technological support for families. The board plans to continue monitoring both the bus fleet and the performance of the StopFinder application to ensure optimal service for students and parents alike.