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Board approves multi-year transportation contracts; members raise fleet-ownership, electrification questions
Summary
The district awarded its transportation services RFPs to First Student Incorporated and discussed future options including possible bus ownership and electric vehicles; the board noted the contract includes 38 new diesel buses as presented during committee discussion.
The Watertown City School District Board of Education approved awarding its transportation services requests for proposals to First Student Incorporated for home-to-school routes, out-of-district runs, truancy and detention runs, athletic and field trips, and summer transportation.
The RFP process and recommendation came from the district transportation committee; the board approved awarding the contracts and authorized the superintendent to execute them. The resolution as read states that contracts and terms are attached to the RFP documents submitted to the board.
During discussion, board members and committee representatives urged the district to consider longer-term fleet strategy. One board member noted that, under the awarded contract, the district will receive 38 new diesel buses and that the purchase should meet district needs for about a 10-year horizon. The same board member said the committee discussed whether the district should conduct a financial study to evaluate owning buses rather than contracting, particularly as state and federal policy and grant opportunities encourage electrification and zero-emission buses.
Why it matters: The contract sets transportation service delivery for multiple school years and addresses operational choices that have long-term budget and environmental implications. Bus type, ownership and electrification decisions affect capital planning, fueling and maintenance requirements.
What the board said: Staff presented the procurement and committee recommendation. Board discussion focused on future planning — specifically, the idea of exploring district ownership of buses, the potential need to electrify the fleet in coming years, and the timeline the current procurement provides to plan for those changes.
Next steps: The superintendent was authorized to sign the awarded contracts and take actions necessary to implement them. Board members asked staff to investigate the financial feasibility of bus ownership and to return with options for fleet electrification planning.
