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Consortium plans study to look for transportation savings
By Jordan Cohen
NILES
The educational service centers of Mahoning, Trumbull and Ashtabula counties think coordinating school-bus transportation services in the three counties may mean significant savings.
The three-center consortium is applying for a $300,000 grant to study the feasibility of coordination and how much it could reduce costs.
The grant, part of the federal stimulus package from several years ago, is available only until next month. Last week, Niles City Council approved applying for the grant on behalf of the centers, which will administer the funding if the grant is approved.
“This is all about energy efficiency, routing and shared services,” said Michael Hanshaw, superintendent of the Trumbull Educational Service Center, who attended last week’s council meeting. “It’s a good opportunity to explore cost savings to the district, so I consider this money well spent.”
His superintendent counterpart in Ashtabula County, John Rubesich, believes financially pressed districts have to consider bus-service coordination. “People don’t realize [Ashtabula County] has the largest geographic area in the state, [so] this is something very important for us to find better and more-efficient ways of sending out our buses.”
Hanshaw said the one thing the study will not focus on is cutting personnel. “Absolutely not,” he said. “This is about saving money for districts through better use of transportation.”
Transportation costs for school districts, large and small, are considerable. According to figures provided by the Ohio Department of Education, Youngstown, for example, spent nearly $732,000 on buses, maintenance, fuel, tires and insurance for the school year ending June 30, 2012. In Trumbull County, Mathews, one of the smaller districts, spent more than $130,000 the same year.
“Just this last fiscal year, we spent [more than] $83,000 on diesel fuel and gasoline,” said Brian Stidham, Mathews treasurer. “It would be nice if they could come out with a consortium where we can buy.”
Stidham said the district’s purchases are limited to one provider because of its Vienna location. “Small districts have to deal with these issues, and it’s really tough,” Stidham said.
Richard Santilli, treasurer of Boardman schools, was somewhat cautious about the results of the study should the consortium be awarded the grant.
“I don’t think it’s a bad idea to check into, but the proof has to be in the numbers that you can save money,” Santilli said. “Anything you can save has to be good.”
A decision on the grant is expected by late September.