Committee recommends studying replacement of aging handicap bus and converting an activity bus

Transportation Director Smith recommended the district move forward to replace its oldest handicap-accessible school bus and examine whether to convert a current activity/band bus for extracurricular use rather than buying a second new yellow route bus.

"My recommendation is that we do purchase a new yellow school bus and that it be a handicap bus," Smith said, noting the current handicap bus (identified as bus No. 5 in the discussion) has roughly 385,000 miles, a new transmission and rear end but deteriorated body and interior panels.

Smith said a new handicap bus would better meet the district's obligation to provide immediate transportation when a family with a wheelchair-accessible need enrolls; he explained reimbursement formulas are tied to seating capacity and route status and that activity buses do not generate state route reimbursement. Committee members discussed cosmetically converting the band/activity bus (bucket seats, remove stop-arm signage, add storage) so it can safely support sports and extracurricular trips while preserving the handicap bus as a reserve or selling it.

Members debated alternatives to a brand-new yellow bus, including purchasing lower-cost 15-passenger vans, Ford Expeditions or Suburbans for non-route activity use, and timing purchases to rotate vehicles rather than letting multiple buses age out simultaneously. Staff said depreciation and reimbursement rules affect the economics; committee members asked for cost estimates and proposals to bring to the board when the budget window opens.

The committee did not authorize procurement at the meeting; it asked staff to gather bids and produce options showing costs, inspection requirements, reimbursement impacts and equity considerations.