Broken Arrow board approves purchase of four 77-passenger propane buses for $684,312

The Broken Arrow Public Schools Board approved the purchase of four 77-passenger propane route buses with air conditioning from Ross Transportation at a total cost of $684,312. District staff said the purchase will be paid from a combination of 2023 bond funds and transportation funds and will expand the district's propane fleet to 10 buses.

"We're actually purchasing from Ross Transportation," said Grant Moore, executive director of transportation, who corrected an earlier line-item description and presented the purchase. "The total cost to the district is $684,312 and would be paid from a combination of 2023 bond and transportation funds. We are utilizing the state contract number SW0110. This will expand our propane fleet to 10."

Board members asked whether the buses were additions or replacements; Moore said they are additions and that some routes have moved to a new south terminal. Moore said propane buses should reduce fuel costs and that air-conditioned buses were assigned to longer routes to reduce student time on buses.

The motion to approve the purchase (with the corrected vendor name) passed on a unanimous roll-call vote: Dr. Williams, Mrs. Taylor, Dr. Brandy Roulette, Mr. John Cockrell and Mr. Allen voted yes.

Discussion vs. decision: the board approved the procurement contract and funding plan during the meeting after staff corrected the vendor name and described operational reasons for the purchase.