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Board approves lease-purchase for three buses after debate over activity-bus reliability and repair options
Summary
The board approved a lease-purchase resolution to acquire two 77-passenger school buses, one special‑needs bus and one 42-passenger activity bus (conventional style), with trustees instructing staff to study repairs/engine replacement options for two older activity buses.
The Edcouch-Elsa ISD board voted Monday to approve a lease-purchase resolution to obtain school buses, approving the purchase arrangement after staff recommended International-brand vehicles and reported favorable financing options.
Transportation consultant Juan Garcia, representing Region 1, told the board the district requested quotes and that manufacturers were struggling to supply transit-chassis (flat-nose) buses. Garcia recommended conventional-style buses (engine in front), and the board packet included quotes the presentation listed as roughly $147,000–$161,500 per unit depending on manufacturer and model. Garcia summarized the requested vehicles as "2 regular 77-passenger buses, 1 special needs bus with capabilities of 3 wheelchairs, and 1 conventional activity bus."
Trustees pressed staff on financing details, payment timing and whether an outright purchase or lease‑purchase was being used. Garcia described the proposal as a lease‑purchase: the district would receive the buses up front and make annual payments over a 3- or 5-year term until title transfers. Staff reported an expected delivery timeframe of three to four months for vehicles then in final production.
Board members also discussed two older activity buses that the district has not used because of repeated engine/belt failures. Trustees asked staff to investigate repair vs. replacement and whether engine replacement or retrofitting (e.g., a different engine type) might be feasible, noting repeated breakdowns have made those vehicles effectively unusable.
A motion to approve the financing resolution and vehicle purchases passed (motion by Mister Lozano, second by Mister Torres). Trustees and staff agreed to return with follow-up information on repair/retrofit feasibility and more detailed financing terms.
Ending: The board approved the lease-purchase and directed staff to study repair options for older activity buses and to bring more detailed financing terms once final bids/financing paperwork are complete.
