Superintendent Dr. Chuck Garner told the Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education Monday night that the 2015 International school bus totaled in a May 1 accident would be covered by insurance and could be replaced with a new 2020 model if they approved.

“If we wanted to spend $22,733, we could replace that 2015 with a 2020 model with no miles on it,” Garner said.

Insurance valued the totaled 2015 International bus with roughly 65,000 miles on it at $62,665.

“The insurance would sell (the wrecked bus) back to us for $5,292,” Garner said.“We talked to the people we are going to buy our new buses from, and they will honor the bids that we already have, so we wouldn’t have to go out to bid again — $85,390 was what the new bus would run us.”

 Garner said they quoted the $22,733 as the difference between the cost of the new bus, minus the insurance payout. The district typically replaces buses every 10 to 12 years, but Garner said they begin evaluating each vehicle at the 10-year mark.

“Talking to Gary (Pohlmann, transportation director), he would recommend we do (the buy back) because of the engine alone, if we were to replace an engine in another bus, we would double that.”

Garner added that the transportation director would be able to use other parts on the wrecked bus as they went bad on route buses, and provided the board with an itemized list.

“I can give you the pros and cons both ways,” Garner said. “But I wanted to give you that information so you could see where it hit.”

Board Director Bill Seamon was definitive. 

“Let’s take advantage of the new bus,” he said, and the other six members murmured agreement.

Board President Glenn Ely called for a motion and second to utilize the insurance adjustment on the totaled bus to purchase a new one, and buy back the wrecked vehicle. The purchases passed with 7-0 votes.

Superintendent Dr. Chuck Garner told the Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education Monday night that the 2015 International school bus totaled in a May 1 accident would be covered by insurance and could be replaced with a new 2020 model if they approved.

“If we wanted to spend $22,733, we could replace that 2015 with a 2020 model with no miles on it,” Garner said.

Insurance valued the totaled 2015 International bus with roughly 65,000 miles on it at $62,665.

“The insurance would sell (the wrecked bus) back to us for $5,292,” Garner said.“We talked to the people we are going to buy our new buses from, and they will honor the bids that we already have, so we wouldn’t have to go out to bid again — $85,390 was what the new bus would run us.”

 Garner said they quoted the $22,733 as the difference between the cost of the new bus, minus the insurance payout. The district typically replaces buses every 10 to 12 years, but Garner said they begin evaluating each vehicle at the 10-year mark.

“Talking to Gary (Pohlmann, transportation director), he would recommend we do (the buy back) because of the engine alone, if we were to replace an engine in another bus, we would double that.”

Garner added that the transportation director would be able to use other parts on the wrecked bus as they went bad on route buses, and provided the board with an itemized list.

“I can give you the pros and cons both ways,” Garner said. “But I wanted to give you that information so you could see where it hit.”

Board Director Bill Seamon was definitive. 

“Let’s take advantage of the new bus,” he said, and the other six members murmured agreement.

Board President Glenn Ely called for a motion and second to utilize the insurance adjustment on the totaled bus to purchase a new one, and buy back the wrecked vehicle. The purchases passed with 7-0 votes.