D-165 to replace school buses
By AMBER KROSEL - akrosel@nwherald.com
MARENGO – Marengo-Union District 165 will replace half of its aging school bus fleet after a recent state inspection ordered it to act more quickly on the purchases.
Superintendent Lea Damisch said the district would replace seven of its 14 buses by the next school year. Most of the current buses range in year from 1989 to the early 1990s.
“Basically, what happened was the state of Illinois came out and made a surprise visit ... determining the buses – from the standpoint of rust on the bodies and rust on the roof – were not to be used on the road,” Damisch said.
“However, realizing the hardship on the district, they waited to tag them,” she added. “They recognized no child was in danger in transporting at this point.”
Instead of spending several thousand dollars to repair the old buses, the district will buy seven buses within the first year, and then the remaining seven within three more years or sooner.
The district’s fleet additions will be used 2009 buses with five-year warranties. The seven-bus purchase will be budgeted during five years, with about $100,000 in payments each year.
Before the state inspection, Damisch said the district was planning to replace four buses.
Three of the 14 previously had been taken out of commission, and two others had simple mechanical issues that were fixed the afternoon of the inspection, Damisch said.
“We’re going to continue working on replacing the buses as appropriate,” she said.
