Rutherford County School Board approves purchase of 10 buses amid debate over insurance and contractor impacts

Rutherford County School Board members voted March 12 to authorize the purchase of 10 school buses — five special-education vehicles and five 90-passenger buses — and approved a related budget transfer to reallocate roughly $1.9 million within the transportation budget to pay for the purchases and short-term operating costs.

The motion, made by Butch Vaughn and seconded by Claire Maxwell, specified four used 90-passenger buses, one additional 90-passenger unit reserved from Central States at $176,452, four new type-A (24+1) special-education buses and one used 42‑passenger wheelchair-capable bus. “Motion made by Butch Vaughn and seconded by Claire Maxwell to approve five sped buses and five passenger buses,” the clerk read before roll call.

The vote was 5–2: Mr. Tidwell and Mrs. Darby voted no; Mrs. Rosales, Miss Sharp, Mr. Va, Mr. Vaughn and Mrs. Maxwell voted yes, and the motion passed.

Why it mattered: board members said immediate availability drove the decision. Staff told the board that dealers had limited inventories and that some delivery windows (notably from Midsouth)…