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Division proposes $1.53 million purchase of 10 replacement buses under state contract
Summary
Staff recommended the purchase of 10 replacement buses from Sunny Merriman under a Virginia state contract for $1,534,986, noting $1,522,000 is budgeted in the FY25 CIP and $12,986 in completed project balances; the board asked questions about fuel type, fleet size and replacement criteria and will consider the item at the August 6 meeting.
Division staff presented a request to purchase 10 replacement school buses under the Virginia state contract.
The presenter (Speaker 8) told the board the recommended vendor is Sunny Merriman and the contract price is $1,534,986. Funding of $1,522,000 is included in the FY25 capital-improvement plan and $12,986 would come from completed project balances. The superintendent recommended that the board review the purchase request and be prepared to vote at the August 6 meeting.
Board members asked operational questions. One asked whether the buses are gas-powered; staff answered yes. Staff explained the division uses a smoothing replacement plan to retire buses when they reach 15 years of age or exceed 250,000 miles. "So we annually replace 10 buses just to keep the fleet up," the presenter said, noting a fleet of about 160 buses with some kept as spares for daily needs.
Why it matters: maintaining a safe, reliable bus fleet affects daily student transportation and operational continuity; the purchase draws primarily on CIP funding rather than a new appropriation.
Ending: The board did not take a final vote on the purchase at this meeting; staff requested the item be placed on the August 6 agenda for action.
