Marion County Public Schools has 44 new school buses on the roads.
The district was able to get the buses through a five year lease-to-purchase option.
That means the district can start using all of the buses now instead of getting a few each year over a five year period.
This is the first bus purchase for the district since 2011.
Facts about these new buses:
- Conventional Type C bus (non-flat nose)
- 77-passenger capacity
- Diesel powered
- Average cost per bus: $110,316
- Options include: seat belts, air conditioning, video cameras, GPS, two-way radios, intercom/PA, wheelchair lifts on 14 of the buse)
- Buses are assigned to drivers/routes with the following considerations: outlying areas, miles traveled daily, maintenance concerns, etc.