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Barrow County Schools approves purchase of 10 air‑conditioned buses and multiple fleet service contracts
Summary
The board approved acquisition of 10 new 72‑passenger buses and authorized multiple transportation‑related contracts for outsourced repairs, fuel, parts, tires, white‑fleet service and fleet tablets to support operations for the coming school year.
Barrow County Schools approved procurement actions July 29 to replenish and support its transportation fleet before the start of the 2025–26 school year. Director of Transportation Jason Ayers asked the board to authorize the immediate purchase of 10 in‑stock, 72‑passenger buses equipped with air conditioning from Rush Truck Centers (International chassis) and to approve a series of vendor contracts for repairs, parts and fuel.
Ayers said Rush Truck Centers offered a per‑bus price of $145,000; the total purchase amount for 10 buses was presented as $1,450,000. He told the board the buses are in stock and available for prompt delivery. Board members moved the item to be considered that night so the vehicles could be accepted and put into service as soon as possible.
The board also approved recommended vendors and contracts to maintain operations: a three‑year pool of outsourced repair vendors (estimated $500,000/year) to provide flexibility when the district’s six mechanics cannot complete large or specialized repairs; Basell Oil Company for petroleum/fuel supply (estimated $1.2M/year); a set of local and OEM vendors for brake parts, batteries and shop supplies (estimated $775,000/year); Southern Tire Mart LLC for fleet tires (estimated $200,000/year); Connor Automotive for white‑fleet service (estimated $80,000/year); continued use of WEX fuel cards for off‑site refueling (estimated $400,000/year); and CalAmp Synovia tablets for fleet tracking and driver support (estimated $160,000/year).
Ayers explained the vendor pools are three‑year contracts subject to inflation or tariff adjustments and said outsourced repair options reduce downtime when in‑house mechanics are at capacity. He also noted immediate need for air‑conditioned buses for routes currently running without AC, citing driver and student comfort during a high heat index. The board approved the recommended purchases and contracts by voice vote.
