on Friday, October 17th. Members present, myself, >> Tony, >> and Mrs. Blinkado is on the way. So, we were going to get started. Prior to uh her getting here, uh make a motion that we approve the agenda. >> Second. >> And yes. Yes. >> All for it. >> Um make a motion that we approve the minutes. >> Second. >> Yes. >> So moved. Yeah. >> Okay. I guess we move on to Mr. So update on bus patrol. Since uh last time we talked about it, I am Burrow has signed and returned their agreement. I made a few had bus patrol make a few modifications. Upper Southampton had their solicitor had a couple requests. Okay. >> And that all went through. They are taking it to their next meeting and Warminster also is taking theirs to their uh I think their first meeting in November. >> Okay. >> Is what the update I got from them yesterday. So hopefully by the second week in November, I have all the agreements in place and uh we're ready to start implementing that. So I think that's exciting for you know safety of our students. That's awesome. Everything like that. So >> out of curiosity, what were the solicitors? >> It was Yeah. updates to Pennsylvania law that that bus patrol hadn't put in there on how they deal with these things because they change all the time because now with all the cameras on stop lightss and things like that, they've rewritten some of the law. >> Okay. >> And bus patrols wasn't up to date with Pennsylvania law. So, their solicitors said, "Hey, we need to update this so we do it right." I was like, "Okay." >> Oh, yeah. It's good. >> Yeah. So, they did a good job. Um, other things that are going on is I mean I knock on wood all the time. I think we're uh starting to make headway on repeat discrepancies. One of the things I've tried to implement when I got here is to fix things right the first time. You know, it might cost a little more money in the upfront, >> but it seems to me like we've had less and less things >> repeat themselves over the last months. And it seems like the scrambling around and the things we fix on a daily basis have shortened. So now we can focus on our actual preventative maintenance items and the things that we should be doing and have time to do. So that theory over time saves us money. It might, you know, in in the long and it seems like that's happening. It just seems like things have slowed down. So you know with that so >> on that note um Mr. agree with since we're um some of the refinancing is helping us out and there's other items that are looking to save us money. A couple years ago, uh you had addressed a capital fund and trying to fund the capital fund. Is that something we can start looking at again to get ahead, you know, preventative capital fund to, you know, to get ahead of being proactive like Mr. Wartman's been trying to do? I know we we looked at it, we couldn't really fund it the way we wanted because we didn't have the money, but if things change now that it's something we can look at at least look at. >> I think it was Yeah, I think me it was a a preventative maintenance fund so we can be proactively fix things instead of fixing things after they break. I might be using the wrong term. Couple years ago, you had um talked about h having a funding a uh reserve fund so we could proactively do things, you know, you know, do a roof ahead of time, that kind of thing, >> right? Yep. This is the fix. So, financially we're in a pretty good place to be proactive. >> Okay. Well, that that's what that's what I was getting at. Okay. >> Yes. >> Yep. So yeah, at some points I step in, I let the guys do some work and they talk about what they're doing and they they do a fabulous job and then it's at some point they're like, "We're going to spend this much to fix a 10-y old piece of equipment that has been fixed two times a year for the last three years." Well, it's time to replace the piece of equipment and stop putting a third of the amount of it cost to replace into repairing an old piece of equipment. So, those are kind of the things I'm trying to, you know, they're they're coming along and they're thinking about now and how they replace and repair things. And we have those discussions all the time. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, I mean, nothing to change. I'm still working through Barry Isizette and uh coming up with a plan for the FCS classrooms to hopefully we can figure out how to fund those for next summer. Um when I get a total number, we'll have more to update on those. And I just continue to I guess fix, you know, project the 10-year capital plan and refine those numbers as I get more data. So, that's just a that's that'll continue. I'm 10 years now. Next year, I'll have to add a year, you know. So, that's just an evolution. It just keeps going so we stay ahead of what what we uh need to stay ahead of. um >> supposed to be able to see that. >> No, this is these are the same slides. >> And I can we we might be able to share these another way in a weekly update or or in just a operations email so you can see them and actually have time to look at them as I update them. Um Tom, do you have anything to add to capital update that we we have nothing's really changed in capital update stuff? Yep. Yeah, great. How's it going? Yeah. >> Yeah. again doing that plan right from the front from the front and making sure we have everything planned and we know the actual cost instead of going into it without a without really investigating in those FCS classrooms I think is it takes some time. It's just like I'm I'm still continuously working on solar, but our roofs are not ready. And that's a thing we have to talk about at some time when I have all those that's another number I'm crunching to try and figure out, can we do it in phases? Can we do it, you know, so that's that's to come too, but I don't want to give you a bunch of information that's not true until I know what the picture really looks like. So >> with the uh planetarium, where are we with the grants, business partnerships, and getting outside agenc or or or Maybe. Right. That's a great resource. Certainly Yep. >> Great. So that's so the next thing is uh what I what we taken to the board for approval or or not but so there's four items. So I'll talk through each one of them. So I'm requesting that we purchase a cargo van. This is just a Ford Transit van that's clear in the back for our courier. Uh, and what we what that would do is that would replace his truck. What's happened over time is he's transporting thousands of computers, um, food for dining services all the time, uh, paper products for printing and things like that. And he's got a truck with a vinyl bed cover on it and it is not watertight. It still lets water in. So, what I proposed is a cargo van for him. Number one, it's cheaper than a truck. Trucks are $80,000. They're ridiculously expensive when it comes to that. They're 75 $80,000 just with nothing in them. It's crazy. Um, so it's cheaper and it's going to replace one of the old trucks. It's a 2000. It's actually a 2009. I got my my dyslexia or something there. But that that truck is our carpenters's truck and it's starting to rot out and it's having a lot of issues and things like that. So what we would do is take the current courier's truck and transition it to the carpenter. It's still got a plow on it and everything and then replace that and sell the current truck from the carpenter which we're going to sell not trade in because we can get twice as much money on a sale on municipal bid or something like that. So, we're gonna we hope to recoup about $20,000 of that. That truck in its plow is probably worth $20,000 even though it's that old. >> 34 then. >> Yeah, we're you know 35 34 35, you know, 40 into a van. So, and then transition that truck that the that the courier has into the carpenters's truck because it's a much newer truck. So, that's my thought and plan on that to try I think that's the best way to make that happen. Um, the other one we're requesting when it comes to vans. So, these are similar to the vans we bought last year without the bus door. We really don't need that bus door and all the different things that those vans on. These are basically today's version of the vans that have the bench seats in them. They've been they certified nine passenger van and um they they here we went down to Abington and looked at them. So, these are actual pictures of the vans. >> Who went and looked at them? >> I went and uh Tim Anderson went >> Can I ask who was the one actually negotiating the prices for >> these? So, here's what happens. We went out to bid for these. >> Yeah. Um, and I'll show you the bid was actually higher than the um what's the name of the what's the name of the not co-stars but um Damn it. I have it right here. >> No, so it's but it's like co-stars. It's um I'm losing my mind right now. So they came back more expensive in the bid. They were cheaper on the co-stars bid. So we were the the price per van instead of being 90ome, thousand like we did last year without all the other stuff, they're $61,000. So all the all those bids are go out. Anything that comes from co-stars is a fixed price. Nobody negotiates those. They we we request a bid through the co-star system and they give us a co-stars bid. They have to give us certain discounts. >> Source >> source well. So, same thing as code >> speak to your head mechanic. >> Yep. So, >> I know I've been I kind I talk with him about it all the time. >> Yeah. >> You're not following. >> Okay. >> He's telling everybody that he's the purchasing agent. >> Yeah. >> All the buses and the vans. >> Yeah. No, >> he's not qualified to do that. And I'm getting community members calling me, not bus drivers, community members asking me why we're sending a mechanic to do our purchasing. I have no idea what you're talking about. >> He doesn't do any purchasing, >> but he is saying that over there. >> We'll clarify it. >> Yeah. >> So, using source well and you'll see this on the board. It's in the minutes and everything here that we have all the documents to go. We're gonna save a little over $5,000 purchasing two vans. >> So, how are these different than the ones you bought last year? >> Last year's were the tall ones. Number one, they they came with um they had to send them out and modify the step because it ADA compliant or something like and remember it had to they had the bus door that opens like a bus handle. They had to take that door off, restructure it, put it back on with all the mechanisms to open it like a bus. >> Why did we need that? >> But why did we need that bus that bus door? >> Yeah, >> they're not being used for special education. >> No, they're not. >> Why would I say that if I didn't know? They're not being used for special education. >> We were told it were they were >> there's not even any bus aids. >> So >> So those buses are not being used for special education. There are no bus aids on those buses. There is no aisle. Those are bench seats. >> 100% not. They're set up like these. They actually have a bigger aisle than these do down the center. >> That's not what I'm being told. Well, I we had pictures of them last year and we've been in them. They truly have like these three seats up front. They're actually split. There's actually two on one side and one on the other. The same with the second row is two and then they're split in the back. It's so there's a lot more room. Somebody can stand up in them. They can maneuver around in them. These you can't stand up in. But these are >> these are newer these are newer versions of the bench seat and they're much more easy. They're much easier to get in and out of. They drive better. Why do we need more bands? >> So we can recoup some of the runs that we outsource right now. >> Who do we outsource to? >> The IU. And we outsourced to a company called Buckled In. How much are we >> in number of students or or money or >> how about both? So in 24 >> I'm talking about right now I don't care about >> well I know 2425 here. So we're 2526 we just started the year right 2425 we paid the IU 1.8 million over $1.8 million in just transportation >> talking about now. >> So right now we we just started we don't get a bill from them. Um, >> buckled for us. >> 26. >> We've got 26 students in buckled in. >> 26 runs or 26 students? >> Same thing. They do one oneoffs. >> They put them in a They put them in a vehicle. >> I thought Buck didn't said they couldn't handle it. >> They could. Nope. We had a we had a meeting with the regional director came in from San Diego, the guy that runs that region and we had a meeting with them and they found they found us drivers and we are currently using 26 of their drivers to transport some of our students. >> So they only each they only transport one student. >> Yep. transition. >> Yeah, I think it was the vice president actually. Yep. Per day. >> I have all the numbers. >> 52 currently. >> So, I'll just give an average a day. 52 students. >> We're currently transporting Not to mention, it's easier to get van drivers >> and then it is CDL drivers right now until we until we know that this plan totally takes us forward with 10 new CDL drivers, van drivers we have. >> Yeah. deep assessor. Why student >> unbuckled in? >> Yes. >> Because they're actually certified. They they they use their private cars. It's basically like a professional Uber service where they they they they manage the system and they send someone out each day. So, it's it's like an Uber >> kind of, but they're managed by this company and they're background checked and they're, you know, they're they're done all all the criminal checks, everything like that. >> So, you mean Tony and I could go work for Buckled In that kind of >> So, like Uber, >> why would we put kids in those cars? >> Come on. They have telemetry on those cars. They're all tracked. Everything. >> The parents can track the car. >> They have the driver's number if they need something. It's It's all legitimate. >> Taxi. >> It's all legitimate. Yeah. But they have totally control. They They know if the guy is speeding. They know, you know, it's just like anything. It's a It's a very competent organization. So, >> and the difference is 30ome dollars a day per student >> from the IU. Picture of the driver, everything. >> Yep. Yeah. I I have a question regarding the vans. Um, so there's, you know, going there's a lot of changes coming, a lot of positive changes. Um, if one of those changes, which I think might happen, results in less outplacements, would we then not need those vans? >> We could still >> we're not doing as much outplacements. >> Well, I don't know if we >> I mean, because I don't know where the numbers are with how many out placements we have, how much that we currently have that necessitates the purchase of vans. And if we're not doing as many, then maybe we don't need as maybe the vans we have will do the job if we don't have as many >> out placements. >> I can't I don't >> I know it's looking into the future, but >> yeah, I don't have that data in front of me, but because I don't I would have to talk to special special needs. And >> could we either put this on hold until we have that information or maybe just lease vans short term until >> I mean, I think we can use the vans either way to pull these students back. Not all the IU or buckledin students are special needs. Some are like just oneoffs where you have to pick up one person. So instead of sending a 30 passenger bus or something like that. So without all that but yeah I don't have that. >> Can we look at those numbers first before we commit to almost 124 grand? I mean, if there's a possibility we're heading in that direction, then we may not maybe get one band instead two. Maybe least one or two for a short period until we see where this winds up the outcome is. And maybe not a lot of money, we don't having that we may not use it need as much if we reduce our dependency on it. So it's not just >> not just the out placement stuff. >> Yeah. instead of a bus. >> Oh, that makes that makes sense. >> Has our need gone up or has our operational vans reduced? >> Seven. >> I mean, has our need increased that much that we need 18 more seats? I mean I just because we can use van we can find van drivers until that we know we have 10 more CDL drivers this you know we don't we don't know that yet. Yeah, >> here's here's just one example from this year that I can I just thought of. So, we used to leave two vans at the high school for them to use in the middle of the day for trips or whatever. It's this year we've pulled those back and are using them for routes morning and afternoon and dropping them back off right after the routes in the morning at the high school so they can use them and then we go back and pick them up so we can use them in the afternoon. So the increased need for vans number one because we have a lot of special you know oneoff trips and we have an excess of van drivers right now. The need for vans is there. We could use them right now if we had them today. >> You have seven vans already. >> Yes. >> Some are pretty old. >> That's just me. >> Are all seven vans building? >> Well, I can't say they're fil. >> I can't say capacity because we might only have four in it to go out go like he said to look out. >> They need four going to another direction at the same time. So it's not >> and instead of put >> So even with seven vans, we're still using full fullsize buses to do trips that a van could do >> if we have drivers. >> What's that? >> If we have >> if we have drivers. Well, you know that there's so many factors going into >> but but even if this raise enables us to hire drivers and we have we get CDL drivers, it doesn't change the fact >> we need that we're that we're we're still using large passenger buses to do trips to vans. >> So that's that's what this is about. >> I mean and the other thing is and I know it's but the money for these is already slid aside into capital. Even if we don't spend it, it doesn't go back into operation, right? It's already been earmarked. It's set aside. So, I'm saying that's an argument, but we're not >> it just gets slid to the next year. So, just a thought. So, right. So, even regardless of the driver situation, just we're we're using we're still using large passenger buses to do trips that vans could do because we don't have enough even at seven vans that it's not enough to do. >> We're still using van buses that we shouldn't be using buses. I mean because again also given what you've said here and that this is part of that ongoing transportation conversation. I don't see any reason not to move it to the full board for consideration. So I would support moving it ahead to see what everybody >> doesn't see what everybody says. >> Two more for the vote. >> Two more. >> Two more. So if this thing wants to work. So proposal for two 30 passenger vans. >> How fix the buses we have? >> So we have two that are old enough that we can make basically make one out of because they're starting to get that bad or we can put >> the mechanics actually working on the buses. >> They do work on the buses. >> Do they? >> Yes. >> Do they know what they're doing? >> Yes. >> I don't think so. You have bus drivers that are not propane certified. Is that correct? >> We have some that have not been a training. >> None of them have have propane certification. Not one of them. >> I asked this a year ago. Not one is propane certified. So, we send all our propane buses out for repair. >> Not true. >> Who Who works on the propane buses then? >> They work on them. They've had training on them. >> Are they certified? There's it's a training you go through. You go out to Bright Bill and make >> certification. >> Okay. >> It is a certification. Correct. >> What? >> No, I don't believe it is. But that's I I'll check on that. >> Talk talk to your mechanic. >> I know >> that is what they're saying. >> They have had not some of the newer the two newer ones have not had training on it. And I tried to set it up. We just haven't been able to make it happen yet. >> That's what you told me a year ago >> because of timing. No, that was the summer time that I worked on that. >> Yeah, they weren't. So, so I'd like to buy two 30 passenger buses to replace two of the older units. What we'd like to do is take one of those older units and make a backup out of it. There's two that are failing. make one work and then get rid of the other one and leave that 30 passenger there in case one we need an additional bus for an emergency. >> So there's two old 30 passengers. They're just at the end of their life. >> Yeah. >> I mean just >> they're 2006s, >> right? So So even regular regular repair isn't going to keep them down. >> 200 year 2006 buses. >> You don't think the community is going to go wild? >> He just raised We should be spending as little as we can. We can't keep smacking these people in the face. >> I understand, >> Mr. Green. But I would beg to differ since it's my name. It's my name that's being said. Mrs. Branado did this. I'm one of nine, but Mrs. Branado is the only one being blamed for it. I'm not spending another dime. That's just me. >> Three people here. So >> So are we are we taking these forward or >> I'm not even doing >> I'm saying I'm What I'm saying is that I don't think the mechanics are giving enough time getting enough time to do their own jobs because they're driving >> and then Right. >> And we have we have mechanics in my opinion >> just from the money until we find the money. >> Until we find the we should not be spending money that we don't absolutely have to spend. >> So if if we're if we get fully staffed with drivers, do we have enough buses in service to make the runs >> right now? >> Okay. discussion instead of [Music] correct our Our recommendation [Music] was to delay. understand what those are 2000. Yeah, both these are two. >> We have 19 buses that are 2010 or older right now. So, and that's only, you know, they're just that that's it is what it is. So, even though they're old, we we currently have enough to make the runs if we have the drivers to staff them. Do we have any one of those older ones just dies? Do we have any replacements? >> I would it really depends on the size of the bus, right? >> Okay. >> So, if it's a 30 passenger bus, probably not. If it's a you know, if it's something could we send something else out, maybe, >> you know, we we could put a different bus out there if we need a if we need a 72 passenger bus and one of those goes down, we don't have any extras. >> So, it's really >> How old's the one you How old's the one you want to replace? the 72 passenger. >> 72. >> It's one of the ones that we have what, seven as of today, Tom, that are out of commission basically permanently. They're that old that they are not fixing. They're done. >> It's going to replace one of those to have another bus on on our fleet. >> Those are seven buses that we either have to scrap or sell. They're basically worth $1,000 a piece. That's nobody wants them. We get the 72. Can we not do the 230s? the two if the 30s are running and buying a 72 gives us a bus as a reserve, you know, does this doesn't require 72? >> I mean, it goes >> that work short term. >> It it just goes back to logistics. I mean, we can like like Tom said, we can make we'll make all of it work. What we're trying to do is not come three years from now and have to replace 10 or 12 buses at one time. This is, you know, let's do it. We we earmark $650,000 a year. that goes into capital. It's stuck in capital. This is a little over $500,000 for all of these vehicles. So, I I mean, it is what it is. So, that's the I'm trying to same way as I talk about maintenance, doing things progressively and not getting down to the end of the road and having seven roofs in two years to fix and cost us $10 million in one. >> I'm looking at not wanting to, you know, spend a whole bunch of money and get to school. It's that it's as much about just keeping our bus fleet updated. It's a little little at a time. This is while we're on that. Um 7.4. I forget which bus. >> Well, this is this is the buses. 7.4 refers to one of the buses. Looks like doesn't have any seat belts on it, which it was item 7.4 on the agenda. Unless >> or see unless they are >> I mean maybe just didn't call it out but they all come with them now >> all of our buses. No, >> no, >> we have a few that have some for certain like the special needs and things like that. Uh if it has a wheelchair and different things like that, they they do have some some seat belt items in them. >> Yeah. Well, the vans and stuff was >> the vans will have belts obviously. >> I thought one of the one of the sturdies had belts unless maybe I just read it wrong. >> Yeah, >> I did read that 7.5 that belt or that bus. It called for undercoat, but it's it's not having it. >> Yeah. So that's things that's things that >> we can we can do after we get it >> because that's what's out there right now. So we've accepted that take that off because it these vans are already built and that's why Sourcewell has given us such a great deal on them the vans. And so we can do the undercoating when we get them. >> We can do that in house >> through the bus because it doesn't have it. >> Yep. It's already built. They're out there ready to go. So we wouldn't have to wait till February to get them. We could get them >> in November when we need them. >> Okay. >> You know, so we were >> we took advantage of things that already sitting there already. >> Yep. And that's why some that's why some of these are this much off per unit >> because they're sitting there built already >> and they don't want to they don't want to keep them for a year or two. >> They're leftovers. >> They're new. >> They're this year. >> Which makes sense. I mean, again, this is part of an ongoing bus replenishment conversation. I don't see a reason to not move it forward. And if you want to vote no, vote no. But if you know, if the board feels that we should continue the plan as we've been doing it, then yeah, let's move it ahead. >> Yeah, I think we I think something needs to be addressed. >> Yeah, transportation is top of mind for everybody right now. So, and again, if people want to vote no, vote no. Yeah. But >> but I mean yeah let's get some of those questions answer have that information presented priorities look at it. >> Yeah that's fine. >> Any more questions? >> Are we done? >> No sir. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.