The Culver Community School Board approved the purchase of new buses during their meeting Monday night.
Treasurer/Business Manager Casey Howard explained to the board in Superintendent Karen Shuman’s absence that the recommendation from Transportation Director Paul Widman was to purchase three new 66-passenger buses from IC Collins.
IC Collins was not the lowest bid, but given that the rest of the fleet comes from the company, and that the closest facility to conduct any warranty work, or other work that cannot otherwise be done in-house, is in Plymouth. With a quote given by the other two companies, the new buses would have to go to Fort Wayne or Cincinnati where the towing cost could be costly. Additionally, the school has an inventory of parts that are compatible with IC Collins buses, and the corporation has a great working relationship with the vendor. Widman stated that the IC Collins buses will have better mechanical improvements.
With those reasons given, the school board unanimously approved the bid from IC Collins for three new 66-passenger buses for $467,397.
Howard noted the corporation can only afford to buy three buses at this time which differs from the previously board-approved Bus Replacement Plan which has four buses set for replacement this year.
Howard also mentioned that the corporation just recently received two buses ordered in early 2022.
There are currently 30 buses in the fleet at the corporation.
