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Clearview Public Schools (Clearview School Division No. 71)

BOARD MEMORANDUM

Date: January 29, 2015

To: Board of Trustees

From: Peter Barron, Superintendent of Schools

Resource Person(s): Peter Neale, Associate Superintendent Maryann Wingie, Director of Transportation Services

Re: School Bus Evergreening

Appendix Page School Bus Inventory (3 Year Projection) ................................................................ 3 2013.02.14 Report on Micro Buses ......................................................................... 5 Purpose To begin the process for the replacement of school buses. Current planning would be to target buses older than ten (10) years old used on regular routes, and average five buses per year. Background: Each year the Transportation Department requests approval from the Board to send out the bus tender request. The school division has approximately 51 active routes, transporting approximately 1,332 students daily (or 54% of our total student population). This represents a transportation system that travels over 1,458,711 kilometers per year (or the equivalent of one bus travelling around the Earth over 36 times). Clearview has 51 active fleet buses, and 3 active extracurricular buses. Extracurricular buses are purchased to facilitate both the transportation of students and the transportation of cargo (built-in below floor storage). School buses are amortized over a 10 year period. Amortization from school buses is charged against the transportation budget and established as a capital reserve. The capital reserve largely serves to support the purchase of buses. In general, buses purchased are first purposed to active routes. Over time, buses are switched between shorter and longer routes to ensure even wear-and-tear on school buses, and between rural routes and town routes. When school buses reach 10 years, the school division seeks to cycle them away from active routes and they become substitute buses until the end of their usual life (where costs of maintenance are higher than benefits of keeping for regular use) or deemed surplus. As buses are kept active past a reasonable period, they are more prone to break down and the maintenance costs increase significantly which increases the total cost of ownership. The advantage of using a standard and reasonable frame for evergreening buses is that it ensures stability of the active fleet of buses, recognizes the high-use Clearview buses experience on rural roads, and keeps maintenance costs down. Further, a clear evergreening process ensures consistency and allows for effective budgeting. Assuming a 10-year amortization, Clearview should be seeking to purchase 5 new buses each year, with an estimated cost of $86,000 per bus. Purchasing pre-owned buses may be a consideration; however this approach does represent increased risk due to the uncertainty on the history of the buses and application of warranties.

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Smaller Bus (and “Microbus”) Considerations Management recommends continuing with the current model of standard-sized buses in the fleet. This provides the best use of assets for the division, and allows for smooth transition of buses throughout the fleet. By continuing a standard size for our fleet, buses as needed can be switch between runs easier. Further, larger buses afford more safety for students and accommodates the need for student cargo (such as hockey bags and music instruments). As discussed in 2013 and 2014, these buses also provide a better ride experience for students and staff. Following the January 2014 Board meeting where there was discussion on the cost differentials between size of buses, the Board requested management follow up with vendors concerning what 36-Passenger or “Micro-Buses” would cost. In these conversations, vendors indicated that these buses are not proving to be the preferred option for school boards and in some cases may discontinue the model. Management also requested the fuel consumption information for the different size of buses from vendors and did some research on-line, however this information is not readily available and the estimates provided do not allow for reliable comparisons between types and size of buses. Through discussions with bus drivers and the Transportation Liaison Committee, management has heard concerns from drivers on the micro-bus option due to the quality of the driving experience on rural roads. From the work done, Senior Administration continues to recommend the use of 70- and 46-Passenger buses for our fleet, and believes the cost difference (capital cost and fuel usage) is not significant when considering the benefits achieved through flexibility of fleet inventory, need to drive on rural roads (driver and rider experience), and actual space availability on buses (that is, a 70- or 46-Passenger bus typically carries less students than the name implies as we do not expect three students per seat in most cases). Safety and increased ability to transport student cargo are added benefits. Considerations As per the list of vehicles for 2014-15, Clearview has five vehicles older than 10 years of age on active routes (fully amortized). Estimates of approximately $440,000 total to purchase five buses are based on 2013-14 purchasing information ($87,000 for a 46 Passenger; $92,000 for a 52 Passenger). With the decline in the Canadian dollar, prices for buses may be increased to last year. For 2014-15, the amortization budgeted for vehicles in 2014-15 is $432,764, with $65,578 carried forward from 2013-14 and total available of $498,342. As the total estimated costs, without consideration of the Canadian dollar, for the five buses is $440,000 there are funds available to proceed. Of the $498,342, $35,501 was allocated from unrestricted reserves to consider the tow truck purchase, and is available for buses at this time. The tow truck planned for 2014-15 was purchased out of existing operating reserves for $121,920 and did not impact the transportation capital reserves. For future consideration, one of the extracurricular buses will require replacement due to age and declining utility. The extracurricular buses are more expensive than regular buses as they have an additional storage built into the bottom of the bus to accommodate field trip needs (approximately $5,000 and are larger buses). Recommendation Management recommends proceeding with the purchase of five (5) school buses before the year end, consistent with a regular evergreening strategy of five (5) buses per year for regular use (5 buses = 51 buses/10 years). Depending on the remaining dollars, an extracurricular bus replacement may be considered later in the year, if resources are available. Buses scheduled to be cycled into the spare fleet are C045, C047, C053, C054, and C056.

Board Motion: “That the Board of Trustees direct management to proceed with a Request for Quotation towards the purchase of Four 46-Passenger Buses and One 52-Passenger Bus. Quotes for buses will be brought back to the Board of Trustees for final determination.”

To increase the utility of the buses and address cargo on buses, option pricing to have cargo holds installed in the new vehicles will also be requested from vendors for the Board to consider.

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Location Bus No.Year

of BusMake Size Usage for 2014-15

Kms at the End of June,

2014

Estimated Yrly Kms

Estimated Kms at the

End of June, 2015

Usage for 2015-16Estimated Yrly Kms

Estimated Kms at the

End of June, 2016

Usage for 2016-17Estimated Yrly Kms

Estimated Kms at

the End of June, 2017

Coronation Bus Shop C010 1997 GMC 36 spare 365955 5000 370955 spare 5000 375955 spare 5000 380955Coronation Bus Shop C014 1997 GMC 36 spare 351968 5000 356968 spare 5000 361968 spare 5000 366968Stettler Bus Shop C019 1999 TCFE 54 spare 338996 5000 343996 anticipate to sell soldStettler Bus Shop C020 1999 GMC 36 spare 370562 5000 375562 anticipate to sell soldStettler Bus Shop C024 2000 TCFE 54 spare 272542 5000 277542 spare 5000 282542 spare 5000 287542Coronation Bus Shop C028 1999 GMC 36 spare 379229 5000 384229 spare 5000 389229 anticipate to sellCoronation Bus Shop C029 1999 GMC 36 spare 393446 5000 398446 spare 5000 403446 anticipate to sellStettler Bus Shop C031 2000 Thomas/Freightliner 36 spare 344112 5000 349112 spare 5000 354112 spare 5000 359112Stettler Bus Shop C032 2000 Thomas/Freightliner 36 spare 366054 5000 371054 spare 5000 376054 anticipate to sellCoronation Bus Shop C033 2001 GMC 36 spare - burning oil not using a lot 297150 5000 302150 anticipate to sell soldStettler Bus Shop C036 2001 GMC 36 spare 402780 5000 407780 anticipate to sell soldCoronation Bus Shop C037 2001 GMC 48 spare 374529 5000 379529 spare 5000 384529 anticipate to sellCoronation Bus Shop C038 2001 GMC 42 spare with w/c lift 215792 5000 220792 spare with w/c lift 5000 225792 spare with w/c lift 5000 230792Stettler Bus Shop C039 2001 GMC 66 spare 283673 5000 288673 spare 5000 293673 spare 5000 298673Stettler Bus Shop C040 2003 Blue Bird 54 spare 265209 5000 270209 spare 5000 275209 spare 5000 280209Stettler Bus Shop C041 2002 Freightliner 36 spare 365315 5000 370315 spare 5000 375315 spare 5000 380315Coronation Bus Shop C042 2002 Thomas/Freightliner 48 spare 328775 5000 333775 spare 5000 338775 spare 5000 343775Stettler Bus Shop C043 2002 Thomas 66 spare 300926 5000 305926 spare 5000 310926 spare 5000 315926Stettler Bus Shop C044 2002 Thomas 66 EXTRA-CURRICULAR Stettler 255891 15000 270891 EXTRA-CURRICULAR Stettler 15000 285891 EXTRA-CURRICULAR Stettler 15000 300891Stettler Bus Shop C045 2005 Thomas/Freightliner 48 route 323139 20000 343139 spare 5000 348139 spare 5000 353139Stettler Bus Shop C046 2005 Thomas/Freightliner 66 needs expensive repairs not using 329149 5000 334149 anticipate to sell soldCoronation Bus Shop C047 2005 Thomas/Freightliner 48 route 259569 27000 286569 spare 5000 291569 spare 5000 296569Coronation Bus Shop C048 2005 Thomas/Freightliner 48 spare 326655 5000 331655 spare 5000 336655 spare 5000 341655Stettler Bus Shop C049 2006 Thomas/Freightliner 25 route 135202 33000 168202 route 33000 201202 route 33000 234202Coronation Bus Shop C050 2006 Thomas/Freightliner 25 route 221631 17000 238631 route 17000 255631 spare 5000 260631Coronation Bus Shop C051 2006 Thomas/ 30 route 290586 20000 310586 route 20000 330586 spare 5000 335586Stettler Bus Shop C052 2006 Thomas/Freightliner 25 route 268739 40000 308739 route 40000 348739 spare 5000 353739Stettler Bus Shop C053 2006 Thomas/Freightliner 48 route 317113 40000 357113 spare 5000 362113 spare 5000 367113Stettler Bus Shop C054 2006 Thomas/Freightliner 48 route 298702 25000 323702 spare 5000 328702 spare 5000 333702Stettler Bus Shop C055 2006 Thomas/Freightliner 48 route 209026 35000 244026 route 35000 279026 spare 5000 284026Stettler Bus Shop C056 2006 Thomas/Freightliner 48 route 359219 15000 374219 spare 5000 379219 anticipate to sellStettler Bus Shop C057 2008 Blue Bird 66 route 254980 7500 262480 route 7500 269980 spare 5000 274980Coronation Bus Shop C058 2008 Bluebird 36 route 152372 30000 182372 route 30000 212372 route 30000 242372Coronation Bus Shop C059 2008 Bluebird 36 route 183339 25000 208339 route 25000 233339 route 25000 258339Coronation Bus Shop C060 2008 Bluebird 36 route 214685 28000 242685 route 28000 270685 route 28000 298685Stettler Bus Shop C061 2008 Blue Bird 52 route 155137 35000 190137 route 35000 225137 route 35000 260137Stettler Bus Shop C062 2008 Blue Bird 52 route 137359 30000 167359 route 30000 197359 route 30000 227359Stettler Bus Shop C063 2008 Blue Bird 70 route 210237 8000 218237 route 8000 226237 route 8000 234237Stettler Bus Shop C064 2008 Blue Bird 64 route 173283 40000 213283 route 40000 253283 route 40000 293283Coronation Bus Shop C065 2008 Blue Bird 70 EXTRA-CURRICULAR - Coronation 174168 20000 194168 EXTRA-CURRICULAR - Coronation 20000 214168 EXTRA-CURRICULAR - Coronation 20000 234168Stettler Bus Shop C066 2009 Blue Bird 52 route 178141 30000 208141 route 30000 238141 route 30000 268141Coronation Bus Shop C067 2009 Bluebird 52 route 226080 35000 261080 route 27000 288080 route 27000 315080Stettler Bus Shop C068 2009 Blue Bird 64 route 121328 25000 146328 route 25000 171328 route 25000 196328Stettler Bus Shop C069 2009 Blue Bird 52 route 160194 28000 188194 route 28000 216194 route 28000 244194Stettler Bus Shop C070 2010 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 233724 34000 267724 route 15000 282724 route 15000 297724Stettler Bus Shop C071 2010 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 145977 30000 175977 route 30000 205977 route 30000 235977Stettler Bus Shop C072 2010 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 227670 18000 245670 route 18000 263670 route 18000 281670Stettler Bus Shop C073 2010 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 70 route 170447 54000 224447 route 54000 278447 route 7500 285947Coronation Bus Shop C074 2010 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 141148 18000 159148 route 18000 177148 route 40000 217148Coronation Bus Shop C075 2011 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 141319 35000 176319 route 35000 211319 route 35000 246319Coronation Bus Shop C076 2011 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 124494 40000 164494 route 40000 204494 route 18000 222494Coronation Bus Shop C077 2011 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 158259 40000 198259 route 24000 222259 route 24000 246259Stettler Bus Shop C078 2011 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 134855 30000 164855 route 30000 194855 route 30000 224855Stettler Bus Shop C079 2011 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 130337 30000 160337 route 30000 190337 route 30000 220337Stettler Bus Shop C080 2011 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 161612 35000 196612 route 20000 216612 route 20000 236612Stettler Bus Shop C081 2011 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 52 route 146557 23000 169557 route 23000 192557 route 23000 215557Stettler Bus Shop C082 2011 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 64 route 115450 31000 146450 route 31000 177450 route 31000 208450

School Bus Rotation Schedule

Clearview Public Schools

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Location Bus No.Year

of BusMake Size Usage for 2014-15

Kms at the End of June,

2014

Estimated Yrly Kms

Estimated Kms at the

End of June, 2015

Usage for 2015-16Estimated Yrly Kms

Estimated Kms at the

End of June, 2016

Usage for 2016-17Estimated Yrly Kms

Estimated Kms at

the End of June, 2017

Stettler Bus Shop C083 2012 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 46649 16000 62649 route 16000 78649 route 16000 94649Coronation Bus Shop C084 2012 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 54994 22000 76994 route 22000 98994 route 22000 120994Stettler Bus Shop C085 2012 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 63380 40000 103380 route 40000 143380 route 40000 183380Stettler Bus Shop C086 2012 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 77625 30000 107625 route 30000 137625 route 30000 167625Stettler Bus Shop C087 2013 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 70 EXTRA-CURRICULAR Stettler 61666 30000 91666 EXTRA-CURRICULAR Stettler 30000 121666 EXTRA-CURRICULAR Stettler 30000 151666Stettler Bus Shop C088 2014 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 50029 30000 80029 route 30000 110029 route 30000 140029Stettler Bus Shop C089 2014 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 47529 30000 77529 route 30000 107529 route 30000 137529Stettler Bus Shop C090 2014 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 70 route 47821 42000 89821 route 42000 131821 route 42000 173821Stettler Bus Shop C091 2014 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 70 route 35743 30000 65743 route 30000 95743 route 30000 125743Coronation Bus Shop C092 2014 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 35370 30000 65370 route 30000 95370 route 30000 125370Stettler Bus Shop C093 2015 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 4211 35000 39211 route 35000 74211 route 35000 109211Stettler Bus Shop C094 2015 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 4250 25000 29250 route 25000 54250 route 25000 79250Stettler Bus Shop C095 2015 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 4219 60000 64219 route 60000 124219 route 35000 159219Coronation Bus Shop C096 2015 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 4561 34000 38561 route 34000 72561 route 34000 106561Coronation Bus Shop C097 2015 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 4417 24000 28417 route 40000 68417 route 40000 108417Coronation Bus Shop C098 2015 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 46 route 4631 33000 37631 route 33000 70631 route 33000 103631Stettler Bus Shop C099 2015 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 70 route 4246 45000 49246 route 45000 94246 route 54000 148246Stettler Bus Shop C100 2015 Thomas/Saf-T-Liner C2 70 route 4266 40000 44266 route 40000 84266 route 40000 124266Stettler Bus Shop C101 2016 New 2015-16 Tenders 46 route - new in June 2015 TBA route - new in June 2015 34000 34000 route - new in June 2015 34000 68000Stettler Bus Shop C102 2016 New 2015-16 Tenders 46 route - new in June 2015 TBA route - new in June 2015 35000 35000 route - new in June 2015 35000 70000Stettler Bus Shop C103 2016 New 2015-16 Tenders 46 route - new in June 2015 TBA route - new in June 2015 25000 25000 route - new in June 2015 25000 50000Stettler Bus Shop C104 2016 New 2015-16 Tenders 46 route - new in June 2015 TBA route - new in June 2015 40000 40000 route - new in June 2015 40000 80000Coronation Bus Shop C105 2016 New 2015-16 Tenders 52 route - new in June 2015 TBA route - new in June 2015 35000 35000 route - new in June 2015 35000 70000New Bus C106 2017 New 2016-17 Tenders route - new in June 2016 TBA route - new in June 2016 37000 37000New Bus C107 2017 New 2016-17 Tenders route - new in June 2016 TBA route - new in June 2016 20000 20000New Bus C108 2017 New 2016-17 Tenders route - new in June 2016 TBA route - new in June 2016 30000 30000New Bus C109 2017 New 2016-17 Tenders route - new in June 2016 TBA route - new in June 2016 35000 35000New Bus C110 2017 New 2016-17 Tenders route - new in June 2016 TBA route - new in June 2016 60000 60000New Bus C111 2018 New 2017-18 Tenders route - new in June 2017 TBANew Bus C112 2018 New 2017-18 Tenders route - new in June 2017 TBANew Bus C113 2018 New 2017-18 Tenders route - new in June 2017 TBANew Bus C114 2018 New 2017-18 Tenders route - new in June 2017 TBANew Bus C115 2018 New 2017-18 Tenders route - new in June 2017 TBATotal Kms per Year 1742500 1742500 1742500

Please note: Above is estimated mileages and rotation schedule. Each year the Transportation staff review actual kms, maintenance records, etc. to determine proper rotation, new purchase and buses to sell.

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Clearview Public Schools (Clearview School Division No. 71)

BOARD MEMORANDUM

Date: February 14, 2013

To: Board of Trustees

From: John L. Bailey, Superintendent of Schools

Resource Person(s): Lewis G. Hill, Secretary Treasurer

Maryann Wingie, Transportation Supervisor

Re: Report on Micro Buses

Background:

The Board of Trustees passed a motion at the November 22, 2012 meeting as follows:

2012-11-32 “that The Board of Trustees direct Administration to investigate the use of smaller

buses (i.e. “Microtour”) with maximum capacities of 12 to 30 passengers for

rural routes, and report back to the Board by February 28, 2013.”

Administration contacted eight other school divisions and the main suppliers of schools buses in

the province of Alberta. All three manufacturers sell a small micro bus which can seat up to 29

passengers. These units come in both gas and diesel models.

Cost (approximate):

29 passenger micro bus – Gas $56,000 to $59,000

29 passenger micro bus – Diesel $68,000 to $71,000

36 passenger standard bus - Diesel $78,000

46 passenger standard bus - Diesel $80,425

Specifications:

Most micro buses come with the choice of either a Ford or GM engine, however in discussions

with other divisions it was recommended to purchase the GM engines if the division decides to

purchase micro buses. They have proven to be more reliable and therefore less costly to

maintain.

The micro bus has a maximum available fuel tank of 33 gallons. The Division’s current bus

specifications indicate a fuel tank of 60 gallons on the 46 passenger units. According to the

salesmen and other divisions, fuel economy in rural conditions would be very similar to that of

36 or 46 passenger standard buses irrespective of fuel type. Due to the smaller tank size and

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similar fuel economies the micro buses would need to be refueled almost twice as often as the

standards buses.

Salesmen from all contacted suppliers indicated that the small 29 passenger micro bus would

have a smoother ride than the standard 36 passenger units on gravel roads, but would not be as

durable. The salesmen also indicated that these units do ride lower to the ground and would not

have as much clearance in the snow and mud as standard buses. Unlike the standard bus there is

no room to add under floor luggage compartments to the micro bus due to the clearance issues,

but there is a possibility to add a rear interior luggage compartment if a few seats were removed.

The Bus Centre indicated that they sell about twenty C2 full sized buses to every one micro bus

since there are not a lot of school divisions using the micro buses in their regular fleets. The

most common use is for special needs routes.

Administration contacted the Transportation departments of eight other school divisions in

Alberta and asked the following questions:

Do you run micro buses in your fleet?

If so, how many, in what type of runs (daily routes, special needs, extracurricular),

operations and maintenance experience?

If you would say yes to keep, or no not to keep, such buses in your fleet, what are the

reasons for your response?

The following is a summary of the answers:

Division Number

of units

Type of run Keep Issues / Reasons

Prairieland 12 units Daily runs,

extracurricular

No Significant damage and rust to lower

body, safety concerns due to size and

construction, frequently stuck in snow

and mud, “money pits”

Wildrose 4 units Special needs Yes Lower life expectancy, in spare fleet at

200,000 km, increased maintenance

costs, no big ticket maintenance items if

increased maintenance occurs, good for

special needs and small group

extracurricular

Prairie

Rose

Contract

a few

units

Daily runs Undecided Stability issues compared to standard

buses, parts availability and warranty

issues. All micro buses are factory orders

that take double the amount of time to

receive, up to contractors if want to use

micro bus or standard bus

Battle

River

2 units Extracurricular No Stability and safety issues, significant

maintenance costs, engine and

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suspension damage on gravel roads,

lower body damage and rust, lower life

expectancy 200,000 km max.

Golden

Hills

No units

anymore

No Not durable on gravel roads, high

maintenance costs, stability and safety

issues.

Currently run only 52 and 70 pass. buses

for rotation versatility, parts

compatibility and life expectancy, use 52

pass. for routes of 10 students

Foothills None NA No Stability and safety issues, significant

maintenance costs, lower life

expectancy, lack of rotation versatility

Wolf

Creek

Few School based

extracurricular

No Not durable on gravel roads, high

maintenance costs, stability, construction

and safety issues.

Currently run mainly 52 pass. buses for

rotation versatility, parts compatibility

and life expectancy, use 52 pass. for

routes of 15 students

Chinook’s

Edge

None NA No Stability and safety issues, lack of

rotation versatility

Clearview Administration would offer the following comments based upon information gathered

in researching the use of micro buses:

Smaller buses would typically be used in surrounding small schools farther from the

shop(s). Since the micro bus is lower to the ground and lighter there may be a problem

getting stuck more easily. The only Clearview tow truck is located in Stettler. When

farmers are used to assist in pulling out buses there is a concern over potential liability,

damage to the bus and the farmer’s vehicles. When buses are lower in clearance, there is

a tendency to cause more damage if the bus is pulled out incorrectly.

In Big Valley and Byemoor Clearview has sometimes had delay with getting fuel when

the service stations are waiting for the fuel truck to come out. Typically the

Transportation department has drivers keep their tanks topped up so that if the service

stations run out of fuel there is a buffer before having to drive for fuel. With the larger

tanks, the drivers usually can wait an extra day before having to travel for fuel. The

smaller 33 gallon fuel tank could be a problem as buses would need to fuel more often.

Rotation of buses could be a challenge. The chart below shows average mileages and

what the Transportation department would expect to see on both a 10 year life span (past

practice) and a 12 year life span (Transportation Review consultants’ recommendation):

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Area Yearly

Average Km’s

for Area

10 Year

Average for

Area

12 Year

Average for

Area

Big Valley 31,472 314,721 377,665

Donalda 27,614 276,137 331,364

Byemoor 32,663 326,627 391,952

Average 30,805 308,051 369,662

Salesmen estimated lower repair costs on major components (i.e. engines) ranged in the

$8,000 range rather than the $22,000 cost of a diesel engine. Although the

Transportation department can replace an engine, the small micro bus body issues are not

something the Transportation department is presently qualified to perform, therefore

additional training for mechanics would be required. In other divisions eight year old

micro buses were either already in their spare fleet or needed major body work to keep

them on regular runs. Mileages on units owned by other divisions were not nearly as

high as what Clearview would have expected to see for the same year larger bus in the

fleet.

Shorter life spans on micro buses may reduce the future number of spare units the

Division would have available for the fleet. If it is questionable if the Division can get

the life out on regular runs, it would not leave the spare fleet much unit availability and

life. Also, it is expected the small units would not be as versatile as spare buses since

their size would limit the routes on which the buses can be used.

Administration has the same concern as other Divisions over the safety of students in a

small micro bus versus the larger standard school buses. Battle River discussed an

accident in their Division a few years ago where a semi-trailer truck hit one of their

buses, but no children were hurt. They felt if the same accident occurred in one of their

micro buses, that there would have been serious injuries and possibly fatalities. In

Calgary in 2009 a micro bus sideswiped a parked truck with catastrophic results; the

whole passenger side of the bus was torn away from the frame and a student was killed.)

Clearview has had a bus rear ended by a half ton pickup truck. The half-ton was written

off, but the bus only had minor damage requiring repairs (tail light and glass on rear

door). The child at the rear of the bus did not have any injuries even though sitting near

the rear of the bus. A small bus would likely have had more damage and potential

passenger injuries.

Administration believes the purchase of a 46 passenger bus with under floor storage to

use for extracurricular trips would be beneficial to the Division. A 46 passenger bus

accommodates approximately 30 high school students versus the 46 students

accommodated on the 70 passenger unit.

Recommendation:

Administration recommends the Board continue to use the standard school bus design with a

minimum of 46 passengers on all routes. Furthermore, it is recommended the Board authorize, if

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future budget funding allows over the next four years, the purchase of up to two 46-passenger

extracurricular school buses in addition to the annual school bus replacement tender. Further,

that unless directed otherwise by the Board the Superintendent will consider the task undertaken.

John L. Bailey

Superintendent of Schools

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