SOUTHWICK – The Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District is hoping to sell a 1995 school bus to the highest bidder.
The 65-passenger Thomas bus has a salvage value of $1,000 and while it does not run well, School Business Manager Stephen Presnal said it does have useful working parts.
“It is beyond its useful life to us,” Presnal said. “We would typically trade it in when we go out to bid, but we thought we might get more for it this way.”
The bus has 189,643 miles.
The school district is going out to bid in the next several weeks for new vehicles. Presnal said they hope to purchase two full-size buses, one mini-bus and one van.
“We have two or three vehicles we will use as possible trade-ins,” Presnal said. “So what we purchase depends on what we get for pricing and what best serves our needs.”
Several vehicles are being retired that have served the district well, said Presnal, and still have life but can no longer serve the department’s needs.
The needs for transportation could be changing as the school department studies its options for transportation. The School Committee is considering a change to the school start time for the middle school grades to align it with the high school as the students merge into the new middle/high school.
‘Now we are on a three-tier system for transportation,” Presnal said. “One possibility is to go to a two-tier system.”
Karen Wzorek from the transportation department is conducting a study of the routes and stops now to determine if it is feasible to move to two tiers.
Presnal said he does not see a problem with the middle/high school routes needing additional buses.
“At the high school some students drive and some walk so the [buses] are less crowded,” said Presnal. “I think where there will be more concerns is with Woodland and Powdermill where grades K-6 will be riding buses.”
The study will continue through November and possibly into December.
The surplus bus is available for inspection at the District’s bus parking lot by appointment only. Persons wishing to inspect the bus should contact Karen Wzorek, Transportation Supervisor, at 413-569-6896 to arrange a visit no later than Wednesday, November 6, 2013.
Bids are due by 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013. Bids should be delivered in a sealed envelope marked “Surplus Bus Sale Bid” to the Superintendent of Schools Office, 86 Powder Mill Road, Southwick, MA 01077. The District reserves the right to reject any or all bids as may be in the interest of the District. The winning bidder shall be responsible for taking possession of the bus at the District’s facility at which time the vehicle title will be signed over.
