New Farmington School Board Members Question Bus Purchases

members voted 4-2 Tuesday to purchase eight new buses, with the district's newest elected officials opposing the move. 

Board member George Gurrola raised questions at a Jan. 24 meeting about the $812,000 purchase of five full-sized buses, two special needs buses, one special needs touring bus, and heaters for all eight. Transportation director William Tousley said in a memo that the purchase is consistent with the district's goal of replacing buses after 12 years of service. 

"In reviewing this, I'm not convinced," Gurrola said. "This is not a safety issue. These buses won't necessarily be in unsafe condition."

Board member Murray Kahn said he believes Tousley "cares very much" about the safety of children and drivers, "but in looking at what he sent, I don't think it's time to replace all these buses."

According to Tousley's memo, five of the buses purchased in 2000 have between 129,961 and 146,728 miles on them and will be replaced. Two kept as "spare" buses have logged 96,423 and 136,677 miles. 

Board member Frank Reid said he sees the bus purchases as a safety issue. "Buses over a certain period of time have unexpected breakdowns ... There does become a tipping point for the age of these buses," he said. 

The district has had to delay purchases in the past, board member Priscilla Brouillette pointed out. Echoing Reid's concern, she said, "I think the last thing we want as board members is buses on the side of the road."

Kahn said he did support purchasing the special needs buses. He and Gurrola both pointed out that the district had many other potential uses for the funds and questioned making a purchase just because that's what the district has always done.  

"If we can save a little here, we can spend it somewhere else," Kahn said. "I think we have to be smarter with our money."