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Ogborn gives bus update to South Putnam board
School buses were recently a focus for the South Putnam School Board. This was partly on recent mechanical issues, as well as whether there are consistencies between manufacturers.
Transportation Director Brad Ogborn gave a rundown of the conditions and mileage of each of the school corporation’s buses to the board during its regular meeting last Wednesday evening.
South Putnam has morning routes from Fillmore Elementary School to South Putnam Middle/High School and Central Elementary School. Afternoon routes are dedicated to Fillmore with the middle/high school being a part. Pre-K morning routes run through the week, with one afternoon route for Monday and Tuesday and another for Thursday and Friday. Area 30 routes run morning, mid-day and afternoon, with special needs and extracurriculars adding additional ones.
South Putnam currently has 25 “conventional” yellow school buses, with 20 of those doing day-to-day morning and afternoon routes. Though it has varied this school year, Ogborn estimated that most buses are 75-percent full.
Two buses are equipped with underneath storage and are used mainly for athletics and field trips.
The two oldest buses were put into service in 2008 and built by Thomas with Caterpillar engines. One of them has 87,600 miles, while the other has 100,500 miles. These are out of warranty and must be inspected twice a year.
Three Thomas-built buses with Cummins engines were put into service in 2009 and range in mileage from 75,300 miles to 112,700 miles. These are likewise out of warranty and to be inspected.
Three Thomas buses, two having Mercedes engines and one with a Cummins engine, were put into service in 2010 and are still out of warranty. These range in mileage from 59,000 miles to 107,800 miles. However, one was noted as having “major” repairs done to the turbo.
South Putnam has two 2011 buses, both being Thomases with Cummins engines. One has 68,400 miles while the other has 87,300 miles. The latter was noted to have had major repairs to its transmission, turbo and actuator. Both will go out of warranty in July.
Four IC International buses were put into service between 2012 and 2013, with at least 85,000 miles on each of them. One of these was noted to have had major repairs related to its transmission, turbo and actuator.
Two Thomas-built buses with Cummins were put into service in 2014, with one having almost 40,000 miles and the other 51,700 miles. One of these has had “Wait to Start” code problems being a diesel, though the module controlling has been on recall.
Two International buses with Cummins engines were put into service in 2015, with each having reached 40,000 miles. One was noted to have had repairs to its transmission under warranty.
The remaining seven yellow buses put into service between 2016 and 2019 are all Thomases with Cummins engines, and range in mileage from 11,000 miles on the newest one to 43,000 miles. None of these had any repairs noted.
Three white buses are designated for special needs are Thomas-bodied Chevrolets. The oldest one was put into service in 2010 and has 62,400 miles. One gotten in 2011 has 56,600 miles, while the newest from 2018 has 12,200 miles.
Commenting that it seemed like there were multiple problems with turbos and transmissions, Board Secretary Wes Hacker asked whether there was a “common denominator.” He added that towing bills had “gone up considerably.”
Agreeing with Hacker, Ogborn said looking at the histories of the different transmission manufacturers was possible. He added that he would comprehensively categorize items such as repairs, mileage and tire treads for the board in the future.
In other business:
• Food Service Direct Lori Boyce announced that South Putnam had received a grant for $23,617 from the state to purchase a new oven and a new microwave steamer. The grant is pulling from $620,000 the USDA recently awarded to the state for new equipment at schools.
Boyce said the new equipment will replace two ovens purchased in 2014, though it was not specified for which building. She added that this will mean a savings of $600 a year on chemicals, as those used in the new oven are eco-friendly and uses less water.
• The board authorized for the superintendent to maintain payroll during times when schools are closed or when there is an emergency situation. Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt said the approval was for auditing purposes.
• The board approved a request by Athletic Director Tom Starnes to replace the outfield fence at South Putnam High School with a new six-foot one. He said that coaches and parents would build it by March 18 so that concrete can be set prior to April 1.
• The board approved an annual request by the South Putnam Youth League to use baseball facilities. With providing liability insurance and having events at the high school run by the athletic director, it was stipulated that the league would abide by the corporation’s Coca-Cola contract.
The board also recognized South Putnam’s Students of the Month:
• Central Elementary School: Sylvia Helton
• Fillmore Elementary School: Caitlin Pate
• South Putnam Middle School: William Schurtter
• South Putnam High School: Mitchell Crum
The board also approved the following personnel item:
• Resignation: Sherry Hanley - MS/HS custodian
Including Bernhardt and Administrative Assistant Terri Beasley, the entire board was present for the meeting.
The next regular meeting of the South Putnam School Board is scheduled for Wednesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. in the South Putnam MS/HS Learning Center.