The Gloucester School Committee voted Wednesday to pursue purchase of nine used school buses to replace buses on a lease that expires in June 2026.

CFO Gary Frisch presented the procurement analysis and said a recent bid for nine three‑year‑old buses returned a total purchase price of about $480,000. Administration proposed shrinking the fleet from 22 to 18 buses (keeping spares for service and wheelchair accessibility), financing the purchase and comparing annual costs for leasing versus owning. Frisch said the district expects an annual cost reduction once the fleet is fully transitioned.

Board members questioned maintenance assumptions (staff estimated higher repair costs for older buses over time), warranty coverage on used units, mechanic staffing needs and spare‑bus capacity. The transportation director and CFO said the district could phase approaches, maintain a mix of leased and owned buses for a period, and plan for additional technician hours if needed.

A motion to recommend purchasing nine used buses carried on a roll‑call vote. The committee directed staff to proceed with procurement steps and to return with contract documents and any warranty details for board review.

What's next: staff will finalize procurement paperwork, confirm warranties and financing, and return with implementation details; the committee will review additional replacements for 2028 as the remaining lease expires.