Member 1, Committee member, told the Facilities Committee that on May 2 a district van operated by a maintenance employee struck another vehicle after traffic slowed near Route 235 work, and that the collision pushed the struck car into a third vehicle. No students were on the van at the time, Member 1 said.

Member 1 said one occupant of the other vehicle was injured “quite severely” and that the district expects a long recovery for that person. Staff said the district has not yet received the insurance adjuster’s final report and that investigation and claims processing are ongoing.

Committee members raised staff concerns about personal liability when employees use district vehicles or approved personal vehicles for school transportation. Member 2 said staff are seeking “clarity” from the district’s insurer about employee coverage for such trips; Staff member said the district expects additional information from the insurer soon.

The committee also discussed longer-term vehicle needs for students who use wheelchairs. Staff member said the district now transports five students who require a lift and that recent route and site conditions (a long, gravel driveway that can be impassable in winter) make a lift-equipped vehicle necessary. Staff described the district’s existing lift-equipped vehicle (a front‑wheel‑drive van purchased with federal special-education entitlement funds) and said it is not always available for concurrent needs such as field trips.

Staff estimated a comparable new, full‑size, front‑wheel‑drive lift van could cost about $120,000. Staff said used vehicles are being sought and that no immediate purchase decision is required; the matter will be evaluated and may require budget adjustments.

On fleet condition, Member 1 reported the damaged van was a 2019 model with “50,000 plus miles” and described it as at the end of its life cycle; staff said the district included van and a bus replacement funding request in the shared budget. Member 1 and others discussed daily mileage for routes and the operational strain caused by aging vans and bus-driver shortages. No formal board action on vehicle replacement was recorded in the meeting transcript.