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Board approves bus purchases and HVAC budget transfer; district clarifies cost discrepancy reported in agenda
Summary
Board approved purchase of nine school buses under the statewide contract and approved a $3,999,275 budget transfer for HVAC repairs. The agenda packet contained an inconsistent total on the bus item; staff clarified the correct total amount during the meeting.
The Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education approved two operations items on Sept. 2: the purchase of nine school buses under the Georgia statewide contract, and a budget transfer to fund HVAC repairs.
Bus purchase District staff requested board approval to purchase five 84-passenger Type D buses and four 28-passenger Type C lift buses under the state contract. The packet contained two inconsistent figures: an apparent typographical error listing $1,773,606,140 and a separate line listing $1,773,640. During the meeting staff clarified the intended purchase total was $1,773,640 for the nine buses; the board moved and seconded the item and approved the purchase.
HVAC budget transfer The board also approved a transfer within Fund 308 to support HVAC equipment repairs, professional services and equipment purchases. The amount presented and approved at the meeting was $3,999,275. Staff said this transfer is part of a prior agenda item and returns account lines to finalize allocations that were held back for additional review.
Why it matters Board members acknowledged community concerns about bus driver shortages but said the purchase is part of the district’s regular replacement cycle to retire older, less reliable buses. The HVAC transfer funds maintenance across multiple sites and is intended to address needed equipment and repairs identified by the operations team.
Decisions and next steps Both items were approved by the board at the Sept. 2 meeting. Staff said they will continue routine procurement and project management steps including placing orders under the statewide contract and issuing purchase orders for HVAC services.
