TMCnet News
Rhea moves to buy more school buses(Chattanooga Times (Free Press, TN) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 19--EVENSVILLE, Tenn. -- A growing school population, more students riding buses, an aging bus fleet and fuel costs are combining to cause transportation headaches for the Rhea County school board. Board members voted recently to buy three buses, at a cost of about $224,000, to replace three that have reached the state limit of 15 years in service. But Transportation Director Ronnie Holloway said growth has pushed the bus fleet almost to its capacity. One bus serving the north end of the county and one serving the Frazier community are at the limit of students they can carry. "We need these three now, plus three more," board member Ron Masterson said. Board member B.J. McCoy suggested buying 90-passenger instead of 78-passenger buses, but Mr. Holloway said many county roads aren't designed for the larger vehicles. Chairman Billy Graham added that it might take six months to get larger buses, while the smaller are available immediately. Schools Superintendent Dallas Smith said he has asked Rep. Jim Cobb, R-Spring City, to introduce a bill in the Legislature that would let buses stay in use up to 20 years if they can pass a state inspection. Mr. Holloway also asked board members to consider buying an emergency supply of diesel fuel. "We came within a couple of hours of running out" in the past month, he said. A station in the Fuelman program agreed to sell only to school buses, getting them through the crisis, he said. A tank at the Department of Education office, if it meets current requirements, could hold a two-week supply that could be used for emergencies or at the end of the year, Mr. Holloway said. Board members agreed to examine the proposal further. Board members also rejected a proposal to move money from the general purpose school budget to the transportation budget, saying they did not have a good explanation for the transfer. Board member Bill Davault objected to making "a loan to the county" by the transaction. Members asked Mr. Smith to arrange a meeting with the county executive and finance officer to resolve the matter. Mr. Graham appointed himself and members Dale Harris, Maxine Moffett and Ron Masterson to begin searching for someone to succeed Mr. Smith. The superintendent has announced plans to retire in June. To see more of the Chattanooga Times/Free Press, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.timesfreepress.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |