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Board approves insurance renewal and custodial contract; board hears about bus‑routing software change
Summary
District staff recommended an insurance package that increased premiums by about 11.57% overall and presented a custodial-services contract ceiling; the board approved both. The transportation department’s proposed move to Bus Planner software was described for information and is under the $90,000 threshold so was not voted on.
The Asheville City Schools Board of Education approved the district’s recommended insurance renewal and a custodial-services contract and heard an informational presentation about a bus-routing software change.
Heidi, district finance staff, told the board the insurance market remained unsettled after recent storms but the district’s broker renegotiated proposals. The combined renewal for property/liability and other coverages increased about 11.57% — roughly $54,000 — which Heidi described as competitive given market conditions. Student accident insurance decreased by about $10,500 due to a lower student count. Heidi said the district had budgeted a $100,000 placeholder and the negotiated renewal fell well below that figure.
“I feel like this was, very competitive and, we did budget up to $100,000 so we’re well under what we had put in as a placeholder,” Heidi said.
Board members asked whether the North Carolina School Boards Trust or the State Health/Insurance trust had been queried; Heidi said the district had not recently approached the School Boards Trust but would consider the State trust if it provided a price advantage next year. A board member noted that moving disputes across multiple insurers can increase legal costs.
The board voted to approve the recommended insurance package; the motion carried unanimously.
The meeting also included action on custodial services: staff described the Budd Group contract as a continuation of current-year services with a ceiling of approximately $500,000 to cover custodial coverage across the high school and district as needed. The contract provides a ceiling amount; staff said past years have not reached the ceiling. The board voted to authorize the Budd Group contract; that motion passed unanimously.
Transportation staff presented an informational item about Bus Planner, a bus-routing and routing/GPS integration software. Board materials showed the Bus Planner line item at roughly $69,000, under the $90,000 threshold; staff said the district currently uses Bus Planner for routing and Samsara for GPS tracking and the proposed procurement would consolidate routing, GPS and field-trip/invoicing modules under one vendor. Because the Bus Planner item was below the formal action threshold, the board did not vote on it and received the information only.
Ending: Staff will proceed with contract administration and follow-up procurement planning as described; Heidi will continue to review insurance-market options when renewals next arise.
