Board approves new bus purchases
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RONAN – On Monday, the Ronan School Board voted to approve the purchase of both a new handicap bus, along with the addition of a new activity cruiser bus for the school district.
Transportation supervisor Rob Tougas emphasized the importance of replacing their current MC4 bus, where maintenance has become increasingly costly. “Every time this bus is used, it ends up in the shop,” Tougas said. According to Tougas, the bus company MCI (Motor Coach Industries) has filed for bankruptcy, making it increasingly more difficult to find parts to fix the MC4.
Tougas also discussed the issue of traveling down to Missoula whenever maintenance needed to be performed on the MC4. An added benefit of purchasing a 44-foot International or Bluebird Cruiser includes improved maintenance options. The company “Harlow” in Libby would travel to Ronan when maintenance is needed. Tougas also noted that finding parts for these vehicles would be much easier.
The new bus offers overhead enclosed storage, larger undercarriage storage, vastly improved maneuverability, along with increased visibility for drivers, making the new Cruiser safer and more convenient for students.
The Ronan school board also approved the call for fuel bids for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years. The approved bid was for 30,000 gallons of diesel fuel, along with 5,000 gallons of gasoline for school-owned vehicles. Ronan school district also approved 70,000 gallons of No. 2 heating oil for the 2011-12, and 2012-13 school years. Superintendent Andrew Holmlund assured board members and attendees the school district was receiving the heating oil at an affordable cost. The No. 2 heating fuel will be delivered via tanker truck, 5,000 gallons at a time.
Holmlund also stated Monday night that the Ronan school district’s enrollment in the preschool through 5th grade age group is up from last year.
Information technology coordinator Cory Fuchs spoke on Internet safety for the Ronan school district. Fouchs discussed how the IT department has made improvements in order to protect students. He also brought to light various methods of internet danger and abuse.
Fuchs described in detail the different areas that students, teachers, and parents should be aware of when their children are online. Topics included: online predators, scams and spoofing, sexting, child pornography, cyberbullying, and inappropriate media. Fuchs explained that the school’s firewall is able to filter about 90 percent of inappropriate media.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for March 14.
