S-E considers options for replacing buses, laptops
SHERBURNE – Already considering next year’s budget, the Sherburne-Earlville Board of Education is mulling over a few options for the future, such as the replacement the school’s fleet of buses with new ones, and the purchase of 600 to 900 new iPads to take the place of aging laptops.
Last week, during a presentation given by the school’s head bus driver, Michael Sweeney, the board was informed of three options open to the school district to replace or overhaul its transportation fleet.
“New buses are safer and more fuel efficient,” said Sweeney, estimating that because the school’s current buses get an average of 8.4 miles per gallon and new buses can eke out 11 miles for every gallon of fuel, the school district would save $1,670 annually in fuel costs per new bus.
The school board has been presented with three options, to either trade in the buses and lease new ones for five years before buying them, to lease new buses without trading in the old ones, or to simply trade in the current fleet and purchase a new one.
By trading in the current buses and leasing new ones, it is estimated the school would save $400,000 in fuel costs over the five year lease period. At the end of the lease period, state aid equivalent to the money saved by the district could be used by the school as a down payment for the purchase of the buses.
The school’s buses are seven years old and put on an average of 12,000 miles each year. While the state education department does not require schools to replace buses after a specific duration of time, it does recommend cycling in new vehicles every 10 years.
“Doing the math it seems like a no-brainer. We might as well trade in our buses now instead of watching their value depreciate any further,” said BOE President Dr. Thomas Morris. The board will have ample opportunity to consider its options further before determining next year’s budget.
The school is also contemplating replacing its wireless laptop carts with brand new iPads, which would also be a part of next year’s budget.
“We are considering this option very seriously,” said Assistant Superintendent Todd Griffin.
Currently the school already has 375 iPads, as well as 1,200 computers, and between 16 and 18 wireless laptop carts. Replacing the laptops manufactured in the previous decade with new iPads has a couple of benefits. The iPads would cost less than new computers and also have a much smaller bandwidth footprint, putting less of a strain on the school’s wireless system, and allowing for more students to be online at the same time. Currently the school has been given a price tag for 600 new iPads at $70,000 by its Apple provider, but is considering the benefits of purchasing as many as 900 new devices.
Last week, during a presentation given by the school’s head bus driver, Michael Sweeney, the board was informed of three options open to the school district to replace or overhaul its transportation fleet.
“New buses are safer and more fuel efficient,” said Sweeney, estimating that because the school’s current buses get an average of 8.4 miles per gallon and new buses can eke out 11 miles for every gallon of fuel, the school district would save $1,670 annually in fuel costs per new bus.
The school board has been presented with three options, to either trade in the buses and lease new ones for five years before buying them, to lease new buses without trading in the old ones, or to simply trade in the current fleet and purchase a new one.
By trading in the current buses and leasing new ones, it is estimated the school would save $400,000 in fuel costs over the five year lease period. At the end of the lease period, state aid equivalent to the money saved by the district could be used by the school as a down payment for the purchase of the buses.
The school’s buses are seven years old and put on an average of 12,000 miles each year. While the state education department does not require schools to replace buses after a specific duration of time, it does recommend cycling in new vehicles every 10 years.
“Doing the math it seems like a no-brainer. We might as well trade in our buses now instead of watching their value depreciate any further,” said BOE President Dr. Thomas Morris. The board will have ample opportunity to consider its options further before determining next year’s budget.
The school is also contemplating replacing its wireless laptop carts with brand new iPads, which would also be a part of next year’s budget.
“We are considering this option very seriously,” said Assistant Superintendent Todd Griffin.
Currently the school already has 375 iPads, as well as 1,200 computers, and between 16 and 18 wireless laptop carts. Replacing the laptops manufactured in the previous decade with new iPads has a couple of benefits. The iPads would cost less than new computers and also have a much smaller bandwidth footprint, putting less of a strain on the school’s wireless system, and allowing for more students to be online at the same time. Currently the school has been given a price tag for 600 new iPads at $70,000 by its Apple provider, but is considering the benefits of purchasing as many as 900 new devices.
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