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Committee reviews request to transfer funds for wheelchair-accessible van; staff to present ROI at Tuesday's meeting
Summary
District staff proposed a transfer from the transportation line to buy a wheelchair-equipped van not included in the FY26 budget, citing potential savings versus contracting wheelchair-specific runs (vendor runs cost $450'$500 per day; owning a van can avoid an estimated $90,000 per year for one continuous run). Decision expected at the next meeting.
District staff told the committee they are requesting a transfer from the transportation line to purchase an additional wheelchair-equipped van. The purchase was not in the FY26 budget and would be funded from available transportation-line balances; staff said they will present a return-on-investment analysis at the full-board meeting on Tuesday.
"We have four vans that are running daily," Jill said, and staff explained one already has a lift while three do not. Staff argued ownership can be more cost-effective when compared with hiring outside vendors for wheelchair-specific runs. "When you get that specialized, the cost usually runs between $450 and $500 per day," Joe said, describing typical vendor rates for wheelchair runs. He added that a single 180-day run could cost in the neighborhood of $90,000 if contracted for an entire school year.
Because the purchase was not included in the current budget, staff stressed two operational points: (1) the van is likely to be needed for accessibility at some point this year, and (2) lead times for delivery could push receipt into late spring or early summer, which could require short-term private services if a student needs immediate accommodation. Staff also noted driver licensing and recruitment remain operational constraints for any fleet expansion.
The committee discussed vehicle useful life, capital accounting, and whether to buy a combustion or electric van. Charging logistics and vehicle usage patterns (vans operate intermittently throughout the day) make an electric van more complicated for this purpose absent dedicated charging capacity. Staff said there was money in the transportation line to support the transfer, but the request is a new ask and will require board approval at a later meeting.
Next steps: staff will provide an ROI snapshot and cost analysis to the board on Tuesday, and the board will consider the formal transfer request at the upcoming meeting.
