Board Approves Bus and Van Purchases, Extends Multi-Year Transportation Contracts
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Summary
Board approved purchases of two Thomas C2 school buses and two 12-passenger vans, and renewed three-year contracts with four transportation companies; a contractor raised concerns about receiving contract language late.
The Queen Anne's County Board on Aug. 6 approved vehicle purchases and multi-year transportation contracts intended to sustain pupil transportation and specialized transports for FY26–FY28.
John Murdoch, who presented the bus purchase, said the district will buy two 2026 Thomas Safety Liner C2 buses from American Bus Sales for $324,120 using FY26 capital improvement plan funds to replace vehicles that reached their 15-year life. The motion passed by voice vote.
Administrators also presented two 12-passenger Sprinter vans at a fiscal impact of $123,180, noting the vans are intended for special transports — such as nonpublic placements, out-of-county trips or situations where smaller vehicles are appropriate. District staff clarified these vans are not school buses and do not include stop arms or the student warning light system used on standard school buses.
Separately, the board approved three-year renewals (Aug. 26, 2025–June 30, 2028) with Bay Area Transportation LLC, LS Bus Services Inc., Northern County Exchange LLC and Queen Anne's County Bus Line LLC. Administrators reviewed rates: an hourly rate of $29.16, mileage $1.84, an annual PVA of $29,000, a $1,200 administrative fee per route, and CPIU-based adjustments in years two and three (no less than 4% and no greater than 8% per year). The contracts were passed as a package by motion and voice vote.
During public comment, Raymond Aaron of Queen Anne's County Bus Line thanked the board for approving the contract but said he had not had an opportunity to review the final contract language before the board posted it on board docs and intended to have counsel review it prior to signing.
Board discussion also considered whether operating transportation in-house would be cost-effective; administrators advised a long-term analysis could be done but said most general education routes are traditionally run by contractors while the district maintains special-education vehicles.
What happens next: Vehicles will be procured and scheduled for service and contracts will be finalized. The district noted it will monitor costs, contract performance and consider longer-term analyses on in-house versus contracted models.
