District plans to retire Bus 9 after about $49,700 in repairs

What happened

Staff told the board it plans to retire Bus 9, a 2013 diesel bus, after about $49,700 in repairs, including a repair of about $24,200 that the board approved in August at $23,821. A new bus would cost about $165,000 and a used one about $60,000 to $90,000. No purchase was proposed.

Why it matters to families

Buses are how many students get to school, and the repair bills are growing. The state transportation review in October 2025 also found paperwork gaps in the district's bus records.

The evidence

The briefing lists the July estimate ($23,821.38), the September final invoice ($24,198.68), a driveline retarder still partly broken, and the options and planning costs. It says the $49,700 figure is preliminary and not audited. The state STAR review letter of October 24, 2025 listed non-compliance items about job descriptions and personnel files for bus inspectors.

The source