DECATUR -- Prior to its regular meeting at the high school Dec. 19, the Decatur School Board took the opportunity to tour the district's new activity bus.
During the August 15, 2016, meeting, the school board discussed the need to replace its aging activity bus with a newer and more reliable one. Doug Holly, director of maintenance and transportation, presented several options to the board for its consideration. One option was to purchase a brand new bus in hope the district would be able to get a service life of at least 10 years from the bus.
The board approved the purchase of a new diesel-powered 2016 International with the capacity to carry 40 passengers for $94,000.
Unlike the old activity bus, the new one has two undercarriage storage bins that run the width of the bus. This allows sports gear and other luggage to be stored under the passenger compartment and frees up space for students to ride in comfort. With the gear stowed away, the passenger compartment will be free of loose objects, reducing the risk of serious injuries should the bus get into an accident.
The need for the new bus arose after the Arkansas Activity Association restructured its sports conferences in April 2016. These changes forced some small schools like Decatur to travel greater distances in order to participate in sporting events like football, soccer, volleyball and basketball.
When Decatur moved to the 1A District 1 Conference in basketball this season, the team was required to travel to places like Kingston, St. Paul, Alpena, Lead Hill and Omaha, distances between 90 to 120 miles away with an average travel time of two hours. Some state events are as much as four hours away. This would have added additional mileage to the old activity bus, creating the risk of maintenance issues on the road.
The new bus is covered by a warranty, saving the district money in maintenance cost over the next several years. But more important to school officials and parents is the peace of mind of knowing that the students are on a safer, more reliable form of transportation.
In other news, the board elected two new officers during the Nov. 21 meeting in the high school library. Kevin Smith will replace Ike Owens as president and Amy Brooks replaces Darleen Holly as vice-president.
General News on 01/04/2017