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New buses heading to SD5 and SD6
Some students in the regionās two school districts (School District No. 5 and School District No. 6) may soon find themselves riding to school on brand new buses.
As part of its annual fleet renewal program, the B.C. government is providing $14 million for 37 school districts around the province to purchase a total of 125 new buses.
The Southeast Kootenay (SD 5)is receiving three buses, valued at $405,392 and Rocky Mountain (SD 6): will be getting five buses valued $526,582.
Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett hailed the announcement.
āItās important for school districts to have new buses as the ones currently in use begin to near the end of their service life, and these new buses have the added benefit of better mileage and reduced emissions,ā he said.
B.C. school buses travel over 33 million kilometres each year, the equivalent of 43 round trips to the moon.
Once again this year, the Ministry of Education has negotiated bulk pricing agreements with school bus vendors. Bulk pricing was introduced by government for the first time last year and resulted in savings of 10 to 15 per cent. Previously, school districts negotiated bus pricing individually. Contractors, Independent schools and First Nations schools also are able to take advantage of the bulk pricing agreements.
B.C. student transportation services cost more than $90 million annually. Approximately 1,200 buses are owned and operated by school districts, and another 600 school buses are operated by contractors.
Buses are regularly replaced when they reach certain milestones in years or kilometres driven.
“Renewing our fleet of buses helps to keep students safe and lower our carbon emissions. By pooling our purchasing power across school districts, we can negotiate better prices and direct those savings into classrooms,” stated Don McRae, Minister of Education.
Quick facts
* Districts receive buses with wheelchair lifts where required.
* New diesel school buses reduce exhaust particulate emissions by 90 per cent compared to the previous 1994 standard.
* New diesel bus engines have longer lives and produce 30 per cent to 60 per cent better mileage than gasoline-powered engines.
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