Goodrich- In April the board approved a bid from the Holland Bus Company for $388,500 for the purchase of six used buses.
Due to deficits in the district’s budget and consideration of privatization of bus service, some questioned the need for the purchase of the buses.
‘There has been much concern over the purchase of new buses in the district,? said School Board President David Cramer, at Monday’s board meeting. ‘We are at the point were we don’t have a choice due to the age of the buses. New buses are safer.?
‘If we were selling the buses we would not be buying new buses,? he said. ‘The plan is before the end of the fiscal year in June to have some of the buses in the fleet.?
The district has five school buses that are at least 15-years-old and a new bus has not been purchased since the 2007-2008 school year. In the past, the district had a schedule to replace buses on a regular basis. The buses will be financed for five years, taking advantage of the low interest rates currently available, added Cramer
During the inspection procedure, buses found to be in an unsafe condition are given a ‘red tag.? Michigan law requires the repair of all red tag items before placing that bus back into passenger service.
A ‘yellow? tag indicates school buses found in an unsatisfactory condition, but safe for operation.