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The Burleson ISD school board approved the purchase of two used buses at a price of $140,000 during a meeting Aug. 11.
“We’ll replace our older models with used but newer models,” said Superintendent Mark Jackson. “The old buses will be ruled obsolete at a future meeting.”
Each of the new buses seats 84 passengers and has fewer than 35,000 miles, according to the meeting’s agenda.
The school board also examined the need for a new student-busing contract with Durham Transportation but decided to have its new legal advisers look the contract over before agreeing to it.
Ronald Kuehler, Burleson ISD’s chief financial officer, said that when the transportation contract was audited, several points were added, and staff worked with district principals to determine the exact time students must be at school before the bus driver is subject to a $75 penalty.
According to the contract, elementary school students must be delivered to the campus by 7:35 a.m., middle schoolers must arrive by 7:45 a.m., and high schoolers must be on school property by 8 a.m.
“We’ll have staff at the campuses watching for this,” Kuehler said. “Also, any time a bus is waiting, the engine is to be turned off.”
The board also appointed Tim Southerland to the Burleson Opportunity Fund Board of Directors. According to the agenda, “on even-numbered years, the school board appoints one citizen to the board, while the city council appoints two citizens.” The opposite is true on odd-numbered years. The Burleson Opportunity Fund offers scholarships to Hill College.
“There has been a little conversation with the city in terms of making an effort to fill these spots with people who are acquainted with and understand fundraising,” Jackson said before Southerland was unanimously chosen.
The board also discussed calling a local maintenance tax election for Hill College. Burleson ISD residents who live Johnson County compose the effected group. The issue to scheduled for a vote at the board’s Monday meeting. At that time the board will also discuss the district’s budget in another workshop.
Kuehler said the district has a $65 million budget and is constantly expanding. At the district’s last budget meeting, Kuehler said the budget is probably short about $3.5 million, about $2.5 million of which is used to fund new teachers. He said much of the shortage can be attributed to the district’s addition of three new campuses.
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