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District moves forward with BusRight app rollout as bus-replacement costs climb
Summary
Staff said BusRight is active in Walder, with Friendship and a Washington route pending; early parent enrollment is modest and staff plan outreach. The committee also reviewed bus-replacement goals and rising prices that limit buying two buses per year.
At the RSU 40/MSAD 40 facilities meeting, staff reported incremental rollout of the BusRight bus-tracking app and outlined a constrained bus‑replacement schedule driven by rising vehicle costs.
Sarah Davis, who is coordinating the BusRight rollout, said Walder families are using the app and invitations have been sent to Friendship and one Washington route. "We've only got 76 or 70 68 people that are using the app right now," she said during the meeting, noting that uptake has been slower than expected and that staff will pursue targeted communications through ParentSquare, email from Infinite Campus and printed notices to encourage enrollment.
Staff described the operational benefits of the platform: school staff can view a dashboard showing where buses are in real time and parents can receive short-notice notifications when a bus is about to arrive. Sarah said the district is finishing route rides with drivers to finalize invites and expects most routes to be online after the upcoming school vacation.
On fleet replacement, staff said the district intends to maintain a replacement cycle (roughly two buses a year or three every two years) but will fall short in the coming year. One recent bus purchase cost about $189,000, board members noted, and staff said only one new bus is planned for 2026–27; debt service relief expected in 2027 should allow the district to resume a steadier buying cadence for 2027–28.
Board members also discussed vehicle types and spare-bus strategy. Town routes may favor flat‑front buses for greater capacity and visibility; staff said flat‑front models are shifting to rear engines and the district will watch industry developments before changing long-term specs. Members emphasized the need to keep a sufficient number of substitute buses available for sports trips and unexpected breakdowns.
Staff announced a recent van-driver resignation (Mackenzie Borman) and said the position has been posted; Sarah will provide temporary coverage. No motion or vote took place on fleet purchases during the meeting.
