CESD adds another handicapped bus

The Chinook’s Edge School Division board has approved the purchase of seven new school buses, including one specially equipped handicapped bus.

The move came during the board’s recent regularly scheduled meeting in Innisfail.

During the June 27 meeting, trustees reviewed the successful tender for the $738,300 purchase. Although $12,000 under budget, the purchase still leaves the transportation department budget in a $900,000 deficit position.

“Every year we put in the budget to replace seven school buses a year and that renews our fleet on about a 12-year cycle,” said Shawn Russell, associate superintendent of corporate services.

The inclusion of a handicapped bus this year is extraordinary.

“We have a couple handicapped buses around division. One of seven new buses this year is new, whereas last year we didn’t have a handicapped bus as part of the renewal,” he said.

Seven older buses will now be taken out of service.

“What we do is every year is we look at the buses in our fleet and the ones that are in the condition that we feel need to come off of our fleet will be removed once we take possession of these seven new buses,” he said.

The older buses will be sold at auction or one may be kept for parts, he said.

As for financing the $738,300 cost, he said, “That’s money that we have to include in the budget. Our transportation budget is at an almost $900,000 deficit so we have to take monies from other sources of funds within the division to do that. It is a necessity. We have to have an up-to-date fleet in order to run our transportation department.”

The new buses should be ready for the start of the next school year, he said.

Superintendent evaluated

Meanwhile, the board accepted a report on a recent internal evaluation of longtime division superintendent Kurt Sacher.

“The board acknowledged that his transparency and genuine caring allows everyone in the division to openly discuss concerns with the superintendent,” the division said in a press release.

“As a result, healthy and positive relationships exist with staff and stakeholders. The supportive relationship between the board and superintendent allows the division to move forward in a strong and positive way.”

Also during the June 27 board meeting trustees reviewed an annual report that lists the courses that are being reinstated as a matter of routine.

“The majority of these courses, which Chinook’s Edge schools have received approval from various school divisions to use, have already been in place. New this year is a sculpting course.”

A full list of the locally developed courses is available on the Learning Services section of the division's website.