School district to buy three new buses

July 24, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK

The board of education has approved spending $241,872 to purchase three school buses.

The 78-passenger Thomas school buses will be purchased from Myers Equipment Corp. Inc. in Canfield.

They will replace three buses that are between 15 and 20 years old, said Frank Lazzeri, superintendent.

“It’s important that you don’t let all of your buses get to a point where they’re in disrepair,” he said.

The district uses about 60 buses.

Wear and tear from road conditions, salt and aggregate takes a toll on the bodies and suspension of the buses, Lazzeri said.

“It’s very important to have a replacement process,” he said.

The district purchased three regular buses and one special education bus, using federal stimulus money, last year. None was purchased the year before.

Money for this year’s purchase comes from the general fund.

Also at Monday’s meeting, the board gave final approval for placing three renewal levies on the November ballot.

They include:

A five-year, 6-mill levy, originally passed in 1991, which currently generates $3,849,575 each year.

A five-year, 5.9-mill levy, first passed in 1996, which provides $4,494,886 annually.

A three-year, 1.6-mill emergency levy, originally passed in 1984, which brings in $1,468,744 each year.

In other business, Dr. Robert DeMarco resigned his position on the board, effective July 31.

DeMarco, a 10-year board member, said he is relocating to Florida to be closer to family.

“It’s been an all-around great experience,” he said. “We’ve got great schools, we’ve got great people. And it’s going to be sad. I truly will miss it.”