Kingsport board approves $124,978 purchase of 24-passenger activity bus for Dobbins Bennett

The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education approved purchase of a 24-passenger activity bus for Dobbins Bennett activities on Feb. 11, 2025. The board voted to buy the vehicle through a Sourcewell contract with Central States Bus Sales Inc. for a total cost of $124,978, to be paid from the district’s activities funds.

Administrators told the board the bus will supplement, not replace, an older vehicle in the fleet and will reduce the need to send multiple vans and drivers for away events. "It's a 24 passenger bus," said Doctor Tate, the administrator who presented the item. "It's gonna be paid for through the activities funds." He said the vehicle is intended to carry teams and equipment so the district would not need three vans and three drivers for many trips.

The presentation described the bus as requiring an intermediate license (not full CDL with air brakes), which administrators said most coaches could operate. The vendor and purchasing method were identified as Sourcewell contract no. 063020-BBB through Central States Bus Sales Inc. The board discussed timing and features: administrators said lead time for delivery could be about a year, and that the quoted vehicle does not include school-bus stop arms or the yellow paint and flashing warning equipment used on regular bus routes. "I think there's a fairly long lag time on this, probably about a year before you'll get one," a board member said during the discussion.

The recommended motion was to approve the purchase as presented. A board member moved the motion and a second was recorded; members cast their votes and the motion passed. The transcript does not include a roll-call tally or individual recorded votes.

The board also discussed aesthetic details following the vote, with one member noting the vehicle color could include a stripe or maroon accent. No additional funding sources or budget amendments were proposed at the meeting.