Board opts for newer bus as long-term investment

McCOOK, Neb. — Although acknowledging the higher price, the McCook School Board voted unanimously to purchase an activity bus at $326,500.

Board members cited safety concerns and performance issues in the selection of this bus over a previous activity bus they had first considered, a 2007 bus at $146,000 with 580,000 miles.

District officials have been looking for about a year for a new activity bus, McCook Schools business manager John Brazell told the Gazette this morning. The bus the board selected is a 2015 model, 56-seat capacity with 185,000 miles and be purchased from CoachMasters of Kearney, Neb.

During discussion before the vote, Board president Tom Bredvick noted several community members talked to him about the purchase, with comments ranging about less expensive options being available in January and whether the bus will be used much, given the current COVID-19 climate. He told the board he felt that student safety was paramount and recalled in the past, early-morning calls from parents willing to take kids home from a stalled school bus. Bredvick also noted there are activities every week that students travel to.

Board member Brad Hays asked if the price could be negotiated and Mike Langan cited that the first bus the board considered had triple the milage and that the cost of repairs could add up.

Superintendent Grant Norgaard and Brazell both confirmed that the price was firm and while Norgaard conceded the price was high, he also added that the school district’s bus drivers had voiced concerns with the lower-priced bus.

Their concerns on the lack of power on that bus “stopped us from buying it,” he said. The 2015 bus has a quality engine, he said, and the district’s bus drivers have given it several test drives and were happy with its performance.

Pro-rating the milage and cost over the years, the 2015 bus is the right choice, said board member Dennis Berry.

The board also heard from McCook High School principal Jeff Gross, who told them that a proposed trip to Washington, D.C. in January has been postponed.

McCook High School civics teacher Richard Smock plans a yearly trip for juniors and seniors to the nation’s capitol but due to COVID-19, travel companies are canceling trips this year, Gross said. School staff is currently working with the travel company on refunding tickets from this year as well as from last year’s May event, that was also canceled.