NORWICH – Bus replacement was one of the many ventures the Norwich City School District is embarking on early this year.

Starting in 1985, the district began a cycle of replacing its bus fleet. Every seven to eight years, the district follows the industry standard of replacing the majority of its fleet.

It has been eight years since the last replacements and according to administrators, the buses are nearing 100,000 miles each, they are not fuel efficient and the flat-fronted buses are not economically sound. The design putting the engine in the back is costly and throughout the winter months salt on the roads can corrode them, officials say.