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Battle Creek Public Schools staff recommend buying two SUVs for short athletic trips
Summary
District operations staff presented a recommendation to purchase two Ford Expeditions to replace aging vans used for athletics, citing short-trip costs and safety concerns; presenters said funding would come from general funds and that a state limit will restrict vehicles to eight passengers.
Battle Creek Public Schools operations staff recommended that the board approve buying two Ford Expeditions to transport athletic teams when district buses are unavailable or uneconomical.
Herb Hayden, senior director of operations, told the board the district has a shortage of bus drivers that has forced short-notice rentals. Hayden said two recent short trips cost about $300 each because rentals carry a six-hour minimum; those two trips cost roughly $600 combined. "The recommendation ... is that the board approve the purchase of 2 Expeditions from Lohanhammer Ford, for the purpose of transporting athletes to contests when the buses are not available and are not economical," Hayden said. He said the vehicles would have space for equipment.
Hayden said the packet included three bids and that the purchase funds would come from the district's general fund (listed in the packet as "FLX"). Board members asked whether the district already owns vehicles for athletics; Hayden said the district operates two vans about 16 years old that are becoming unsafe and that coaches drive the vans. Trustees asked whether drivers need special licenses; Hayden said the new law limits these vehicles to eight passengers so they do not require commercial licenses and that insurance coverage has been confirmed.
The transcript records the recommendation and discussion but does not record a motion, a second, or a formal vote.
The board packet referenced three bids for three vehicles and indicated the district intends to replace older 16-passenger vans with smaller vehicles that are insurable and driven by coaches. Hayden identified School-to-school short trips to Harper Creek and Hastings as examples where rentals became costly.
Moving forward, the district will need to decide whether to accept the recommended vendor and contract terms; the transcript does not show a formal approval at this meeting.
