New buses require far less maintenance than old buses and use engine technology that makes them less costly to operate. New buses are also built and equipped to be safer than older buses. Materials are stronger and safety design is better than in buses built 20 years ago. Too, six emergency exits (rather than two in older buses) make it easier for students to get out of the bus should an accident occur.

New buses have other worthwhile features, too:

• A reflective white roof lowers the temperature inside the bus by 15 degrees on a hot day.
• Video cameras record behavior of students on the bus.
• Special ceiling panels lower the volume of student talking.
• Lower emissions

Traditional 71-passenger school buses cost about $59,000 each. Special education buses cost about $73,000. Costs are going up, though, and may be as much as $10,000 more per bus by 2010. That’s due to increasing costs of steel, rubber and mandated emissions controls.

How many of regular and special education buses we get will be determined at the time of purchase by the needs we have and the money we have available.

Cost: $1.5 million