Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District to buy new passenger and ADA vans with one‑time state funds; trustees approve contracts
Summary
The board approved contracts to acquire multiple passenger vans and a specialized ADA wheelchair van, increasing planned spending above the initial $600,000 estimate but relying on enacted one‑time state funds; trustees discussed vehicle types, contingency plans and prioritized safety.
The Amador County Unified School District moved to award contracts to purchase multiple passenger vans (10–12 and 8‑passenger models) and one specialized ADA wheelchair van to modernize an aging fleet. Staff said the total cost came in higher than the $600,000 estimate (roughly $618,000) but that the purchases are covered by one‑time state funds included in the enacted budget.
District staff emphasized the purchases are intended to improve safety and reliability for student transportation; they noted the fleet includes older vehicles and cited a recent incident in which a van caught fire. "We have seen vans that are...1998 Suburban that we are apparently driving around, kids in," one trustee said when urging purchase urgency. Trustees asked about funding certainty, whether purchases could be reimbursed through transportation formulas if state funds changed, the mix of fuel types (staff said planned vehicles are gas), and whether some vans should be all‑wheel drive for upcountry routes.
Staff said the ADA wheelchair van was intended to improve routing flexibility and reduce the need for larger buses on some special‑education routes. The motion to award contracts passed by roll call, and staff said they will phase older vans out as new vehicles arrive.
