School makes plans to improve bus fleet

McCook Public Schools board of education members approved the specs for two new school buses during their regular meeting Monday evening.

"We need to update our fleet, for safety's sake," said maintenance supervisor Chris Wallace. "We don't want buses breaking down."

Alison Wilcox, the student body's representative on the school board, said Student Council members had to ride back from Lincoln with North Platte StuCo members because the McCook bus broke down. "It was way too crowded," she said, with a smile. "It just wasn't good."

The school's fleet of activity buses includes a 1976 coach with more than 1 million miles on it; a 1989 MCI with 609,000 miles; and a 1998 Thomas with more than 100,000 miles on it.

"We need to get the '76 off the road," Wallace said.

The district's route bus fleet includes a 1982 model with 179,000 miles; a 1989 with 119,000 miles; a 1993 with 205,000 miles; and a 2002 with 72,000 miles. "The '82 is a spare," Wallace said.

Wallace said he is looking for 2006 buses with five-year warranties.

The specs for the activity bus calls for a 42-passenger bus with school-bus activity seats. "They're comfortable," Wallace said, but not reclining. "You don't need easy-boy chairs," he said.

The activity bus will be an original yellow school bus converted to an activity bus, Wallace said. It will be painted red and white, with McCook and Bison logos.

The specs list a DVD/VCR system with four flip-down color monitors. Wallace said coaches like this option to be able to show game films to and from games.

The route bus specs call for a 65-passenger bus with seatbelt-ready seats. Board member Diane Lyons asked Wallace to check into the cost of adding seatbelts on both buses.

School board members accepted resignations from John Psota, junior-senior high math; Connie McCoy, second grade; and Deanna Hankins, North Ward elementary.

Psota has taught 33 years in McCook, and Hankins and McCoy 26 years each.

Each teacher requested, and was approved for, participation in the retirement incentive plan which is part of the teachers' negotiated agreement.

The board accepted these donations: from Bryan Regier, $995 for the McCook Senior High band; and, from the McCook Tennis Association, $650 for a ball machine for the MHS tennis team.

In other action:

* Lori Jumps, junior high teacher and a member of the Curriculum Coordination Committee, told board members the schools' Reading First program for K-3 is meeting and exceeding all expectations. Dr. Marchant said some training is becoming available to extend the program to fourth and fifth graders.

* MHS Senior Kasey Clapp invited board members to the Student Council's annual student leadership banquet Monday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m., in the high school commons area. Clapp also said StuCo plans to help sponsor a local child with his/her "Make A Wish."

* The board discussed personnel and the superintendent's evaluation and goals during a closed session from 7:20 p.m. until 8 p.m.