Boyle schools will purchase two new buses
Published 12:17 pm Thursday, November 16, 2017
- Kendra Peek/kendra.peek@amnews.com Perryville Elementary School Principal Chris Holderman shows a paper to the board during his presentation at the meeting Tuesday.
The Boyle County Board of Education approved a request to purchase two new air-conditioned buses for the district — a 72-passenger and a 34-passenger — on Tuesday, for a total of $193,445.
Besides the Blue Bird buses purchased, members heard two other options at the meeting at Perryville Elementary School:
• a 78-passenger bus and a 34-passenger bus, both made by Blue Bird, for a total of $221,385; and
Trending
• an 84-passenger bus and a 34-passenger bus, both made by Thomas, for a total of $225,377.
All of the 34-passenger buses under consideration have wheelchair lifts, said Chris Holderman, assistant superintendent and director of operations and of pupil personnel, something that’s important for the special needs students the smaller-sized bus would be serving.
The 72-passenger plan was recommended by those in the transportation garage, said Superintendent Mike LaFavers.
However, he and Holderman said they would like to see the district purchase another 84-passenger Thomas bus someday. The district purchased two last year, which were used by sports teams and other school groups taking longer trips.
“Is the Thomas bus a want or a need? If you tell me it’s a need, that’s one thing … Do we have a need to warrant the $30,000 difference?” Board member Jesse Johnson asked.
Holderman said the fact that all three options included air conditioning was a big deal for students.
Trending
“They’re all good buses. We’ve never had regular buses with air conditioning,” he said.
LaFavers said there had been occasions when both of the district’s 84-passenger buses had been used at the same time, but it was very rare and it was unlikely that they would actually need three in service at once. The 72- and 74-passenger buses would serve the district’s needs, he said.
Holderman said drivers didn’t like how 84-passenger buses handle on turns.
The board also heard a presentation from Perryville Elementary School Principal Chris Holderman about the school.
Also, Denise Keene presented the 2016-17 audit and told board members that most districts aren’t as healthy as Boyle County. The complete report will be posted on www.boyle.kyschools.us.