W-MU talks buses

BY KARYN SPORY

Mt. Pleasant News

WINFIELD ? Before the wheels on the bus can go round and round, the Winfield-Mt. Union Community School District needs to decide if their next buses will be propelled by diesel, gas or propane.

Dwight Houseal, with Blue Bird school bus sales, spoke to the W-MU School Board on Wednesday evening regarding the school?s bus lease, which is set to expire in April.

Houseal said with the lead time to have a bus ready for a district, W-MU will need to make some decisions in the very near future.

?This industry has changed drastically in the last three to five years because of the emission issues with diesel motors and everything else,? said Houseal. ?Some of the issues that we?ve dealt with here in Winfield in the past have been with buses gelling up and some starting issues in the wintertime.?

Houseal said there were some alternatives to diesel buses, including propane and gas. ?We brought our propane buses out five or six years ago and that was our answer as to an alternative to diesel with all of these emission things and problems,? he said. ?But we?ve gone one step further now and we?ve brought that same product out in a gasoline version.?

The school board was concerned with the cost of a propane bus, as well as where they would be able to refuel during long trips.

Houseal said the propane is the most expensive to lease over a three-year period, but it would be the cheapest option over a 12-year period if the district decided to do a lease-to-own option.

Board member Jay Nelson also questioned if either option would get better mileage than a diesel bus. Houseal said diesel buses typically garner eight miles per gallon, but he was confident a gas bus could get six.

WACO School District recently had a similar discussion regarding school buses. The district had been interested in the propane buses, but due to costs and the question of where they would be able to fuel during long bus trips, chose to go with the gasoline buses.

The board said they would think over their options. The district is looking to replace three buses this school year.

In other business, the board:

? Approved district goals.

? Approved the Iowa Association of School Boards updates to board policies.

? Approved resignations of Kalsey Koffend, junior high girls basketball; Abby Kite, junior high volleyball; Jennifer Brady, associate.

? Approved the hiring of Justin Chambers, high school wrestling; Amanda Richardson, assistant high school volleyball; Jill Townsley, elementary associate; and Lynnette Van Scoy, talented and gifted.

The next meeting of the W-MU School Board will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m., in the media center.