JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown School budget isn’t the only thing residents will be voting on in May. Tuesday night the school board approved a resolution calling for the purchase of six new buses and two new vans, at a cost not to exceed $795,000. Because the district has exceeded its debt limit – or the amount it is allowed to borrow under state law – the purchase would instead be made on a lease-to-own basis.
School Superintendent Daniel “Deke” Kathman and assistant superintendent Dale Weatherlow explained to the board that currently, the district has several buses in its fleet that are unlikely to pass inspection from the State Department of Transportation without significant repairs. They feel that rather than make repairs that will only prolong the life for some of the buses, it would be better to invest in the new vehicles.
After nearly 25 minutes of discussion, the board approved the resolution.
Following the meeting, board president Joe DiMaio said that while school officials would like to hold off on buying new buses or reduce the number it depends on, it also needs to be realistic when addressing the needs of students in the district.
“If a student has an IEP with a bus directive, you don’t say, ‘Sorry, you live in the city so we’re not transporting you.” You transport them,” DiMaio explained. “At one time we didn’t need a large bus fleet but now the situation dictates that so that’s what we deal with.”
Even with the board’s approval last night – the purchase still has to be approved by district residents during the public vote on May 21.
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