C A Beard board approves $440,238 bus purchase, updates transportation handbook and boosts driver pay

The C A Beard Memorial School Corporation Board approved the purchase of four activity buses — three standard activity buses and one wheelchair-accessible activity bus — and adopted updates to the transportation handbook that include a driver compensation increase.

Staff recommended purchasing the buses as purchases (not leases) to be paid from bond funds and stated the total for the four vehicles, after premiums and estimated trade-in adjustments, as $440,238. Staff said one wheelchair-accessible bus was already completed and the other three were in production; if a purchase order is issued promptly the expected delivery timeline is likely under 90 days.

On the handbook and compensation, the Superintendent described adjustments intended to improve cost-effectiveness and more accurately reflect trip time. The board was recommended to increase the daily driver rate by $10, which staff said would bring the average daily rate to $114 and raise the average driver hourly rate to about $40. Staff noted that some drivers who previously generated pay from eliminated shuttle trips may see reduced overall earnings but that other opportunities for extra events remain. The board approved the purchase and the handbook/compensation changes on voice votes that carried unanimously.

The board discussed trade-in options and public-auction requirements if vehicles are sold; staff said the district could pursue an auction and explore whether selling independently could yield higher returns than trade-ins. The purchases will proceed under the approved not-to-exceed estimate and further details on trade-ins and auction logistics were left to staff.