To the Editor:
I am compelled to respond to Larry Grimard’s letter, “We should be able to budget for buses” (LCN, 2/20/14, Page 4).
First, the things on which we agree: the safety of our students and the cost of repairs on an aging bus fleet does require vigilance. Second, the state Department of Education must approve bus purchases in order for the school to be reimbursed in future subsidies.
Now for the area of disagreement. A new bus was purchased in August 2011 for the 2011-’12 school year. Another application request was sent to the state via email on Nov. 19, 2012, with a follow-up on Nov. 26. Neither email was acknowledged.
We were later told by the state we needed to wait for the next round of applications. However, the 2012-’13 school budget included $40,000 for another bus. The plan was to add this to the $43,000 already in a bus account to purchase the bus. Then, the state reimbursement would be used to replenish the bus account for the next bus purchase.
When the 2012-’13 bus purchase was not acknowledged or approved for replacement, the $40,000 was placed in the bus reserve account. This is an account created by the school and held by the town for a bus purchase. In December 2013, we were told that bus #1 would not pass the next inspection in February without about $17,000 of repairs.
With the help of our selectmen, the central office was able to get an emergency state approval to replace the bus. While the money to pay for the bus was technically in town accounts, it was already designated for a bus purchase, and no other town accounts were used. That bus is now in service.
Because this was an emergency situation, the state reimbursement will be spread over two years. In the mean time, we have requested approval for two more buses and are on the waiting list with the state.
The proposed 2014-’15 budget includes $85,000 for one bus. So far, the 2014-’15 bus purchase was not approved in the first round of state authorizations.
I think most will agree the Jefferson School Board has been proactive in planning and budgeting for the safe and cost effective transportation of our children.
