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School committee presses NRT for missing reports after older buses appear in fleet
Summary
Marlborough school officials raised concerns Aug. 26 about their new bus contractor's fleet after staff found older buses than expected and said required contractor reports had not been produced; the committee asked staff to demand immediate documentation and will track ridership and safety counts after school opens.
Marlborough's School Committee pressed district staff on Aug. 26 over the contractor running its student transportation after a district inspection showed buses older than what members said they had expected from the contract.
Director of Finance and Operations Mr. Wells told the committee inspectors had found bus model years in the 2017'19 range rather than the newer vehicles members said were listed in the bid. "We now have close to 2,200 students registered," Mr. Wells said, noting the district had been prepared to balance routes and collect ridership counts on day one and day two as students return.
Committee members questioned why contractor reports required under the contract had not been supplied. A committee member said the situation felt like "a little bit of bait and switch," and urged staff to request the contractor's maintenance, mileage and accident-history reports immediately. Members asked for a firm date by which the district would receive the outstanding documentation and asked staff to accompany future inspections if needed.
Mr. Wells described several operational concerns discovered during the inspection: seat covers with holes that may require replacement, dirt and cleanliness issues tied in part to the contractor's lot conditions, and a different mix of bus model years than committee members expected. He said the district would verify that the delivered fleet met the bid specifications and follow up with NRT on any shortfalls.
During public comment, resident Richard Aldrich asked how the district ensures bus drivers meet minimum standards. Mr. Wells replied that drivers "are required to pass DOT-certified training," must be licensed, complete observation time and undergo fingerprint and background checks; he said the district vets drivers who will be around students even when they are contractor employees.
The committee instructed staff to demand the contractor's scheduled reports, to share a timeline for when the committee can expect them, and to provide an update in the next committee packet. The district plans to collect ridership counts in the first days of school, adjust routes as needed and consider adding community stops or reassigning students if buses run over- or under-capacity.
What happens next: District staff will request the missing contractor reports and report back to the committee; staff also will collect ridership counts on the first days of school and return with recommended route adjustments or further actions if the contractor does not meet contractual obligations.
