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Kinnelon superintendent flags $900,000 bus-bid overrun; board outlines summer projects
Summary
Superintendent Mango told the board vendors’ bus bids exceeded expectations by about $900,000, prompting proposed changes to elementary start times and a pledge to analyze transportation options (including hiring drivers or buying buses). The board also reviewed summer capital work including gym-floor resurfacing, culinary-arts buildout and HVAC service agreements.
The Kinnelon School District reported a large unexpected overrun on contracted busing for the 2026–27 year, prompting the administration to recommend reverting some elementary schools to previous start times unless a transportation solution is approved. Superintendent Mango told the board that the district’s contracted bus bids came back roughly $900,000 over budget and that some tiered routes are shared with neighboring Boonton Township.
"Those bids came in at $900,000 over," Superintendent Mango said, apologizing to parents of K–5 students and promising an in-depth transportation analysis should the board approve start-time changes tonight. He said the district is considering hiring additional drivers or purchasing buses to reduce reliance on outside vendors.
Board members and the finance committee outlined a schedule of summer capital work. Frank Pepe, chair of the finance, facilities and security committee, said the high-school gym-floor resurfacing is scheduled to begin July 20 and should take about two weeks. He reported several other projects (paving, café HVAC units, restroom work, signage, AC units, and cafeteria seating) and said pending culinary-arts change orders remain within the approved budget.
Pepe also said the board will sign recurring HVAC service agreements with Trane (to be recorded in tonight's votes), perform a fixed-asset appraisal to remediate a past audit finding, and commission a property survey to resolve a potential encroachment issue around trees.
Ending
The administration will return with a detailed transportation study and options; capital projects will proceed under budgeted authority with vendor coordination and architect approvals.
