MPCSD will add five new buses to fleet in 2015-16

By BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

Mt. Pleasant will be adding five new buses to its school bus fleet next school year.

School board members, during their regular meeting Nov. 10, approved the purchase of four 65-passenger and one 71-passenger bus from School Bus Sales. The buses will be delivered during the summer of 2015.

Hoglund Bus Sales actually had the low bid, $83,228 for 65-passenger bus and $85,688 for 71-passenger bus. That bid compared to School Bus Sales? respective bids of $86,455 and $87,455 for 65- and 71-passenger buses. Thomas Bus Sales, Inc., also submitted a bid, asking $87,940 for a 65-passenger bus and $89,039 for a 71-passenger bus.

The district will finance the bus purchases through either physical plant and equipment (PPEL) or school infrastructure local option sales tax revenue. The district did receive a five-year fixed rate loan at 2-percent interest from 5-Star Community Credit Union of Mt. Pleasant. Annual payment will be $90,183.50, according to Ed Chabal, director of finance for the school district.

Ted Carlson, school transportation director, recommended the School Bus Sales? bus bid which are Bluebird buses. Carlson noted that the last time the district purchased buses, it purchased two from Hoglund and two from School Bus Sales for a comparison on bus quality.

?It has become very clear to me which bus company has a better product for us,? Carlson said in a report to the school board. ?It is the Bluebirds offered by School Bus Sales.?

He said the problems he has encountered with Hoglund?s buses include:

? Defective thermal pane windows. Carlson said each bus has at least four thermal-pane windows and he has changed more than 50 windows in the last two years.

? Regular side windows are poorly designed and sash frames break easily as the window goes up and down. Replacement parts are $32 and break again in time.

? Rubber seals fall out of the top of the windows.

? Entrance door is poorly engineered. Insert nuts regularly pull out of the door, bracket breaks on entrance door.

? Emission system does not work well.

? Injectors are failing. ?Although most of them have been changed on warranty, it is still a major problem that is expensive,? Carlson said. ?Normally, when you have a weak injector, while the motor is torn apart you will change all six (injectors).?

Carlson said he felt Bluebird buses were worth the extra money, noting he has had excellent service from Bluebird in the past.

?At this time, I don?t think we should even consider a Thomas bus because of a couple of reasons. Number one would be that any warranty work would have to be taken to Des Moines. Number two is that we don?t have any of this brand and I am very familiar with Bluebirds and IC?s. I can take the IC?s to West Burlington to get repairs, but I am also able to take the Bluebirds to New London for warranty repairs if needed,? Carlson concluded.

Superintendent Dr. Mike Wells noted in his report that the district did not receive an ELL literacy grant for $450,000 spread out over three years. The district will learn whether it receives a 21st Century grant, $300,000 over three years, later this year or early next year.

If the district receives the grant, Wells said the money would be used for before and after-school programs, a Boys? and girls? club and enrichment activities.

Mt. Pleasant?s School Board will meet again Monday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. in the high school media center.