Madison County School Board approves $1.717 million bus purchase to address routes and driver shortages

Madison County School Board members approved the purchase of 11 school buses totaling $1,717,423 at the Feb. 12 meeting after transportation staff and vendor representatives described the district’s needs and support options.

Transportation staff detailed the district’s fleet operations: the district runs approximately 180 routes daily and reported more than 1,500,000 miles transported last year. Staff said the district is short roughly 20 regular drivers and has been operating many double and occasional triple routes to cover service.

Vendor representatives attended to answer questions. Gary King, identified in the meeting as a sales representative for Bluegrass International, described the company’s "next gen" bus design and a telematics suite called On Command Connection that comes free for five years on the quoted buses. King described parts delivery and warranty support and offered driver training and technician access.

Board members pressed on lead times and serviceability. Transportation staff said they had waited up to 15 months for prior bus deliveries and that the district was seeking shorter lead times; the Bluegrass International representative estimated slots could be billed in June with delivery in weeks or months rather than more than a year.

The purchase request asked for nine conventional 72-passenger buses (quoted at $152,089 each) and two handicap buses (quoted from Bluebird at about $174,300 each) for a combined total of $1,717,423. A motion to approve the purchase was made by Mister Rutherford, seconded by Miss Burford, and passed by voice vote. Board members asked staff to coordinate training and warranty procedures with vendors and to include telematics and support plans.