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Finance director: no bids for student transportation; committee approves budget transfers and vehicle replacements
Summary
Westerly’s finance director reported May 7 that no bids were received for the district’s student transportation contract; the committee approved budget transfers and authorized replacement of two worn minivans.
The Westerly School Committee heard its financial report May 7 and approved budget transfers to cover a series of capital and technology needs after district finance staff reported no bids were received for outsourced student transportation.
The finance director told the committee, “We did not receive any bids,” for the student transportation services contract; two vendors attended the mandatory pre‑bid meeting but did not submit proposals. As a result, the district will maintain transportation operations internally for now. Committee members were told using the state MPA vendor is an alternative but would be more expensive.
Year‑to‑date projections through March 31, 2025 show salary and compensation lines projected under budget by approximately $275,000, and employee benefits projected under budget by about $651,000, primarily due to vacancies. Purchased services and miscellaneous costs were projected over budget for items including out‑of‑district transportation, liability insurance and settlement costs; miscellaneous costs included $147,000 for confidential settlement costs the finance director said were confidential when asked.
The finance director presented seven transfers (items 1–7) totaling $251,695 drawn from salary and fringe savings; the transfers were approved by the committee. Highlights included:
• $31,571.20 for camera system software upgrade and cloud service.
• $49,969.48 for classroom phones and phone system upgrades (phones for State Street will move into the new building).
• $27,670 for uninterruptible power supply replacements at the high school.
• $37,364 for transportation routing software and replacement maps.
• Replacement of two transportation minivans (2017 Dodge Caravans) that are in poor condition; one has over 178,000 miles and the other over 191,000 miles.
• $15,120 for PowerSchool scheduling consultation and $1,180 for CodeHS software in the CTE program.
With current projections the district showed a surplus of $665,778; approval of Transfers 1–6 (and a subsequent transfer) would reduce that surplus to approximately $414,083.
The committee voted to approve the transfers by motion and second; the chair called for the vote and members answered “Aye.”
Ending: District staff said a budget transfer to true up lines would be prepared prior to year end; the committee may revisit transportation contracting options at a future meeting.
