Schools

New Transportation Pact Saves Pittsburgh Schools More Than $1.8 Million

The Pittsburgh Board of Education approves an agreement with rate freezes Wednesday.

The Pittsburgh Board of Education approved a transportation contract Wednesday that saves Pittsburgh Public Schools more than $1.8 million over the next two school years. 

The district worked collaboratively with 19 transportation companies to come up with the agreement.

“The new contract not only assists the district in being financially sustainable, it also avoids a service reduction to our students,” said Chief Financial and Operations Officer Peter Camarda, in a press release issued by the district. “Pittsburgh Public Schools strives to put kids first, so this agreement helps us to do just that.”

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The original transportation contract was approved in May 2009 and had a contract period from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2014. It included a 3-percent rate hike for 2012-13 and 2013-14. The new deal froze that rate increase, which represents a savings of $606,992 each year. The new contract will run until 2016. 

As part of the agreement, the transportation carriers will now maintain the radios and cameras installed on yellow school buses. 

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“The district will save a large amount on the upkeep of radio and camera technology,” said Director of Pupil Transportation Ted Vasser in the press release. “That equipment allows us to transport our students in a safe and expeditious way. The surveillance video gives our drivers eyes in the back of their heads in a sense. The cameras increase our monitoring abilities.”

In addition, the replacement life for buses will be extended from 10 years to 12 years.  In all, the two-year savings from the contract extension is more than $1.8 million.

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