Board approves purchase of 27-passenger special-needs bus to carry three wheelchairs

The Connon C USD 464 Board of Education on July 14 approved the purchase of a 27-passenger bus configured to carry three wheelchairs, a purchase the district said will improve route efficiency and let students who use wheelchairs travel with peers for unified sports and field trips. The bus that the district approved is already on the dealer’s lot at Midwest and includes a camera system and radio installation; board members were told the dealer is holding the vehicle while the board decided. The motion to approve the purchase carried 7-0. District staff said the bus will allow the district to transport three wheelchair users simultaneously and ease pressure on smaller vans and minibuses that the district retains for flexibility. “This bus would also be used for a unified sports transportation and field trips as needed to allow students in wheelchairs to ride with their peers,” a staff member said during the meeting. Officials emphasized timing: if the district declined the on-site bus, the alternative would be to order a newly built bus with an estimated delivery of about 14–15 months. Staff also told the board the purchase is eligible for an 80% state aid reimbursement spread across five years through the state depreciation mechanism; that reimbursement, staff said, made the on-site purchase financially sensible. Board members agreed the bus aligns with current transportation needs. The board recorded the motion to approve the special-education bus purchase and voted it in favor; the clerk announced “motion carries 7 0.” Discussion, direction and decision: the meeting transcript shows discussion of alternatives (new-build buses lacking included camera/radio or subject to tariffs), operational benefits (unified sports, field trips), and timing urgency because the dealer is holding the existing bus. The formal action was a motion to approve the purchase, seconded and carried 7-0. Next steps and budget note: staff said the purchase will come from capital funds (referred to as “capital LA” in the meeting). No dollar amount for this specific bus purchase was given in the meeting transcript; reimbursement eligibility was discussed but no final net cost to the district after reimbursement was provided.