Circle the globe 825 times and you will have travelled 33 million kilometres, the distance B.C. school buses travel each year.

Through its annual fleet renewal program, the B.C. Government is providing $11 million for 31 school districts around the province to purchase a total of 96 new buses.

Six of those buses are coming to the East Kootenay to service Southeast Kootenay (SD5) and Rocky Mountain (SD6). SD5 is getting three valued at $416,974 and SD6 is getting three valued at $328,431.

This is the third year that the Ministry of Education has worked with the Association of School Transportation Services of B.C. to procure buses using the Standing Offer Pricing model, which achieves the best possible pricing. Previously, school districts negotiated with bus providers individually.

Contractors, Independent schools and First Nations schools also are able to take advantage of this pricing which has resulted in savings of 10 to 15 per cent each year and saves districts significant administrative and staff time.

“These new buses will provide safe, comfortable transportation for students while lowering operating costs for districts and ensuring that these savings can be directed into classrooms,” stated Minister of Education Peter Fassbender in a press release issued today (Nov. 5).

Over 1,000 buses are owned and operated by school districts with student transportation services costing more than $90 million annually. SD5 and SD6 will receive the new buses in spring 2014.

Buses are replaced when they have met or exceeded the following criteria: 80 plus passenger buses 15 years or 400,000 km and 34-76 passenger buses 12 years or 325,000 km, with 20-29 passenger buses 10 years or 250,000 km.

e-KNOW

Article Share