Peekskill Schools Sign 3-Year Bus Deal with Montauk Transport

The Peekskill school district believes that a new bus contract with Montauk Student Transport will save them money in the long run.

The school board approved the contract during Tuersday's school baord meeting.

The contract, which begins July 1, 2013, will pay Montauk $9,207,664 for home-to-school transportation; $313,440 for sports and field trips; and $414,516 for  summer school transportation. Mile Square Transportation is the company the district currently contracts with.

“The communication that we got from a dispatcher in another district that had used them has all been pretty positive,” said Douglas Glickert, a member of the school board. “The have a pretty good and solid reputation.”

Gregory J. Sullivan, assistant superintendent for business and administrative services, said the district expected to save 4.6 percent, or $169,547 in next year’s transportation budget thanks to the new deal. The transportation budget for next year is expected to be $3,505,302.

The district expects to save $253,473 in next year’s budget line for transporting regular education students alone.
But Sullivan the fuel costs are also expected to increase by $120,000 next year because of teh new contract.

“That’s because, the way the specs were written state that the district will provide the fuel and not the contractor,” Sullivan said. “Fuel is for home to school transportation by miles.”

The district’s contract with Miles Square Transportation has been a source of frustration for a number of district parents with various safety concerns.

Officials bid out the transportation contract last year, but had to continue a one-year extension with Miles Square after they were stifled by some state Education Department requirements. District officials decided to continue its arrangement with Miles Square for one more year, rather than risk losing state transportation aid for this school year.