Board approves purchase of used Chevrolet Traverse to cut contracted transportation costs

The board voted July 28 to approve administration's recommendation to buy a used 2023 Chevrolet Traverse for the transportation department to serve long out‑of‑district routes. Administration said the vehicle was sourced locally from Martin Chevrolet, had about 31,000 miles and a quoted total price of $36,036.70, which includes a four‑year/100,000‑mile warranty and other dealer incentives. District staff said the decision reflects efforts to reduce annual contracted transportation costs, which the administration estimated run close to $300,000 for out‑of‑district services. One staff member estimated that if outplacement needs remain steady, adopting an in‑district vehicle program could save about $100,000 annually. Board members asked whether the vehicle required retrofitting for special needs students and whether insurance liability would change; staff said no retrofits were necessary and the district would notify its insurer to add the vehicle. The motion passed unanimously among the members present. Staff said the district had budgeted $60,000 for a vehicle in the FY26 budget but that the used purchase is below that estimate; attorneys had advised that procuring a used vehicle does not trigger the strict bidding requirements that apply to purchasing new vehicles for school districts.