001Oh, and then yeah, we have someone who's going to think burger. I'll make a motion. Okay. And deny. I move that we deny anything brought against Okay. Hold on, we're about to go live. Yeah. And then and then direct. We have someone who's going to think burger. I'll make a motion. Okay. And deny. I move that we deny anything Okay. Okay. We will call this special board meeting to order at 44. We have two topics to cover. Executive session. I move that we reject deny both claims brought against school district employees and that all be verified. Okay. Any motion? I'll second. Okay. Any discussion? Okay. All those in favor? Okay, that's unanimous. Motion passes 4 to 0. Okay. So, that's coming out of our special executive session. And so now, the one other topic we
002have to cover tonight is accepting the RFP from our student. So, we public for those who are listening, we sent out a request for proposal for a new bus contract. We had two companies bid for it. There was an evaluation committee and First Student came out on top. We had a summary from the superintendent. And you were the our representative. >> I was. On that committee. So certainly you're you support this recommendation. >> I absolutely support this recommendation. Okay. And so this is just basically accepting their proposal and directing the superintendent to begin contract negotiations. When the contract is ready, then the board would receive, review, and approve the contract. So this is really just accepting their their proposal and moving forward with contracting. Right, Susan? Yeah. And if I could interject, I just like
003to say a big thank you to Jennifer because she really shepherded this whole process. Uh you know, she's the one that put together the RFP. She dogged all the communication, did all the responses and organ vibes, and um just has been the champion of it all the way through. And so really appreciate her leadership in making this happen. I'll second. Great. Be Thank you. Okay. So we just need a motion to accept First Student's proposal and proceed with contract negotiations. I'd like to make a motion that we accept First Student's proposal and move forward. I'll second Great. Any further discussion? All in favor? Great. Let's be unanimous. Um the one thing there was a I should have asked before we did all that, but there was a protest, I believe. Did that Did that get
004resolved then? Yeah. We had a protest period and that's why we didn't vote on it because the protest period ended after. And so we responded to the protest um using this. And uh um then we met just last week with Midco. Um he wanted to meet and talk with us and so we said absolutely. They were our existing partner. Absolutely. We went through all the scoring proposals and had a what I felt was a great conversation. And um the the ending result was I'm not going to push it and we're here to help you if you need us and we'll work with you to make the transition seamless. And sure you didn't but you could have pointed out First Student was in that exact situation was it 10 or 15 years ago? >> 15 years
005ago. First Student was the one that we had and then moved away from. So, yep, that's just the nature of business. Okay. I think that was all our business. So, unless there's any >> anything else you want to add? Well done, Jennifer, for sure. And Susan, you both did a great Um after sitting on this committee, I think what really really persuaded us a lot was the training and the safety factors that uh First Student offered. They they really exceeded what we had had in the past and the new technology, the new fleet. I mean, there were there were many many reasons that that we felt like First Student was the one. But um as a committee yes, we were all in very much in agreement with the way things Right. I I do have
006a just popped in my head. I know when when we had uh well, I guess it was probably after we moved to New Columbia. Um there was a pilot program to for some of the buses to use natural gas. Do you know if any of the buses are on natural gas? It was Good program. propane Okay. Uh propane. Yeah, same same same as they said. Yeah. There were a few that were natural gas. >> We had some for a while and then they went away and Got it. Yeah, that's that's a good point. Yeah, they they're used for us or others. That's a good point. We we know that that this proposal will cost us more money, but the proposals were pretty even financially. So, regardless of who we would have selected Yeah, we should
007clarify that it costs us more money based on current contract, but we all knew costs were going up. And as you know, one of the other the other one that we're not awarding to they were firm when they were going to have to raise prices in this new period anyway. >> Yeah, that's one of the things that we looked at is what was cost and it was kind of Cost one is probably not relevant because Right. And one more thing is that the buses will be on Pine Hill Road. So, they will be very close to the bus and the other ones. They won't be far from like But where's Pine Hill Road? They'll they'll be up on Mid-Valley Road. By By Stop & Shop Lodge. Yeah. That area. Yeah. Down by there. Yeah, yeah.
008Yeah. So, they'll be close by. So, that was another um good thing. I think that the these people like And also All right, with that, I'll close the meeting at very short at uh 7:50. Thank you very much everyone. We'll be on in a week and a half next Thursday. Have a nice safety journey home today. We have to learn a month Oh, first