Fort Worth school district buys 40 new school buses FORT WORTH ISD’S BUS FLEET

The Fort Worth school district is buying 40 new school buses as it phases out older vehicles in its fleet, but the school boardis holding off on preparations to build a new transportation facility for operations and vehicle maintenance.

The board on Tuesday night voted 7-2, with trustees Kevin Lynch and Michael Ryan in opposition, to spend $6.6 million for the buses that will replace the oldest ones in the district’s fleet that require costly and frequent maintenance.

Separate action items that would have allowed the district to pursue lease revenue bonds valued at a maximum of $30 million to build the new facility were pulled from the agenda by Superintendent Angélica Ramsey.

Ramsey said during the meeting she pulled the items after having conversations with the district’s bond council and members of the school board.

Board member Tobi Jackson thanked Ramsey, the board and chief financial officer Carmen Arrieta-Candelaria “for working very hard” after the items were removed for board consideration.

“I think the public and our board will make a really good decision with more information, so I want to thank each of you,” Jackson said.

District documents state that a new bus barn is needed to replace the existing, “outdated” facilities located at 3626 Longvue Ave. in west Fort Worth, outside Loop 820. It was identified by the district for replacement and relocation in June 2020 when the Board of Trustees approved an agreement with Corgan, an architecture firm, to redevelop “the current existing bus barn into a more comprehensive transportation facility.”

It’s unclear where the new location would have been or whether the item will return to the board in the future.

The cost of the facility would have been financed by “possible issuance of one or more series of lease revenue bonds by Fort Worth ISD Public Facility Corporation,” district documents show.

Board members would have had to approve a corresponding resolution that would have allowed the district to reimburse itself for any costs associated with this project through the future issuance of these bonds.

Hollie Plemons, a frequent attendee of school board meetings and vocal critic of the district, spoke against the new facility’s $30 million price tag that would ultimately have been paid for by taxpayers.

“I would encourage all of you to stand up against the administration and vote against this resolution. This is not in the best interest of taxpayers. This is not in the best interest of students,” Plemons said.

The district has a fleet of 413 buses that transport more than 14,000 students across 200 square miles daily, according to district officials. The district’s fleet travels more than 4 million miles a year on daily transportation, field trips and events, and the vehicles vary in ages from less than one year old to 20 years old. The average district bus is 9 years old and has more than 105,000 miles on it; part of the district’s replacement plan recommends phasing out buses after about 10 years of use or once mileage reaches 150,000.

There are 147 buses that are more than 10 years old, officials said, which is almost 36% of the district’s fleet. Out of the 40 new buses, 30 will be standard and 10 will be outfitted for special education.

“Along with fiscal considerations, an aging fleet needing frequent repair can lead to major service interruptions. Unanticipated mechanical issues cause delays for student pick-ups and drop-offs. This is a serious concern as unreliable transportation results in lost instructional time and negatively impacts student attendance rates,” district records state.