ASHLAND — The Ashland City Schools board approved the bid summary to purchase two new 72-passenger school buses for the district at its Monday meeting.
At its June meeting, the board approved a motion to seek bids for the buses. The district received three bids, and selected the lowest one, according to Supt. Steve Paramore and district treasurer Kyle Klingler.
The lowest bid came from Cardinal Bus Sales & Services for a cost of $117,908 per unit, according to the bid summary the district opened July 15 at 10 a.m.
(Below is a copy of the bid summary.)
Myers Equipment Corporation and Hill International Trucks also bid on the bus sale, according to the bid summary. Myers Equipment Corporation’s bid had a price tag of $128,858 per unit, while Hill International Trucks’ bid would have cost $121,304 per unit.
Paramore told the board at its June meeting the buses in the fleet were getting old. The district could put money into maintaining them, he said. But, bus prices “are not getting cheaper,” he added.
“Just for comparison, three years ago a bus bid out at $85,000 and our transportation director said we were probably looking at $140, $145,000 per bus,” Paramore told the board in June.
After approving the bid summary Monday night, board vice president Pam Mowry applauded the district for its work to keep up as much as possible by purchasing the new buses. She said in the past, the district has had times where it hasn’t taken care of some of its assets.
She said the idea of making a purchase like the two new buses is to keep things consistent. That way, she said, the district doesn’t have to worry about trying to purchase several buses at once.
“That’s a big undertaking,” Mowry said. “Using (the bus purchase) as an example of how we are hopefully taking care of the rest of the responsibilities of this district — good for you guys. Good for your team.”
Transportation staffing
In addition to approving the bid for the two new buses, Paramore also told the board the transportation department was fully staffed ahead of the 2024-2025 school year.
He also said 720 students have opted in to use Ashland City Schools transportation for the next school year so far. Typically, according to Paramore, the district’s transportation department services around 1,600 students.
The department has struggled in the past to fill bus driver roles. Last school year, Paramore, chief innovation officer Ben Spieldenner and transportation director Doug Shipper, along with other district leaders, stepped in to drive bus routes.
A national bus driver shortage has posed a challenge to several area districts in recent years. A HopSkipDrive survey about the national shortage stated some contributing factors include:Â
- Issues recruiting new drivers
- Losing drivers to private industry
- Increases in driver retirement
- Insufficient wages
Other area school districts have struggled with the bus driver shortage as well.
Hillsdale’s website states the district needs substitute bus drivers for the 2024-2025 school year.
Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools’ website lists a bus driver position as available for the 2024-2025 school year. Mapleton Local Schools’ site also lists an open bus driver position. Mapleton’s site advertises a need for substitute van drivers, bus drivers and food service employees too.
