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Board renews transportation contract amid questions about electric-bus pilot
Summary
The board approved a renewal of the district’s transportation contract (Royal Coach) but several board members asked for confirmation that the company will pilot electric buses and replace non–air‑conditioned buses this summer.
The Board voted to renew the district’s transportation contract on June 25 after a discussion about whether the contract includes a pilot for electric buses and commitments to replace non–air‑conditioned buses.
Board member Catherine asked whether the renewal contract included Royal Coach’s purchase and deployment of electric buses as a pilot. Superintendent Mary Fox-Alter said she would follow up with Jim (transportation) to confirm whether the electric-bus commitment had been included in the contract language submitted to the board for approval.
Board members expressed competing priorities: some argued that remaining with the incumbent vendor preserved a known price and continuity for summer programs and the upcoming school year; others said the board should see explicit contract language that memorialized any electric-bus pilot or other commitments discussed during budget deliberations.
Frank argued the renewal avoided higher costs that often result from re-bidding and supported voting to renew. Some board members said they would accept approving the renewal now to ensure busing service for summer programs while pursuing an addendum or further written commitments afterward.
Mary Fox-Alter told the board that Royal Coach had promised to replace four non–air‑conditioned large buses for the summer and that the district would work with the company and state incentives if electric buses became more feasible. The board removed the item from a larger bundled vote and then voted on the transportation contract separately; the motion to renew passed at the meeting. One board member recorded a standing objection during the roll call and noted a desire to review the contract text before approving similar renewals in the future.
The meeting record shows the board voted to renew the contract; the district said it will follow up with the transportation vendor and provide written confirmation about any electric-bus pilot or equipment-replacement commitments.
