Dee Bus Deal Helps Bring $200,000 in Proposed Savings for Schools

As Town Meeting approaches, the Westford School Committee approved an additional $200,000 in cuts on Monday night, cuts that had been requested .

Westford Public School superintendent Bill Olsen noted that the key driver toward achieving that goal came from renegotiation of the upcoming fourth year of the district’s contract with .

After sitting down with Dee owner and Westford resident George Dee, Olson told the board that the newly negotiated rate for buses for next year go down from $295 a day to $286.50 per day, with $60 a day rates for kindergarten buses and $50 a day rates for after school buses, a change that will save the town $50,000 a year.

Although the amount was smaller than the $70,000 left over from an EdJobs grant for the town, the bus concession was defined as key by Olsen during the meeting due to the fact that it may have been unexpected given the current state of fuel prices.

“Let me say one thing about George Dee, there have been several years where (Dee Bus) could have charged us a significant sum in readjustment costs in every transportation contract,” said Olsen. “Not only has he given us great service, but he’s been extraordinarily fair.”

The other $80,000 in cuts came from $30,000 from this fiscal year’s budget that can be used to purchase textbooks needed next fiscal year, $38,000 in reduced electricity costs after the district’s HVAC motors were improved by the maintenance department and National Grid, $7,000 from stabilized water rates, and $5,000 from more competitive telephone service rates.

Westford town manager was on hand to thank Superintendent Olsen and the School Committee for giving back money to other departments that have not seen increases in recent years such as the Police and Fire Departments.

The board also thanked Olsen for finding the needed cuts without impacting faculty or requiring new fees for residents.

“I am proud that the administration didn’t come back with any suggestions to the School Committee to get this money by raising fees,” said School Committee member Judith Culver. “It’s been several years since we’ve raised fees, they’re as high as they ever should go, and I’m very grateful that we’re not tacking more fees onto the parents of our children.”

The vote to accept the new bus rate was unanimously approved, with School Committee members Erica Kohl and Margaret Murray absent.

The sum amounts for .004 percent of the $47,741,283 School Department’s proposed request from the Fiscal Year 2013 General Fund.