Town meeting approves $126,848 to buy wheelchair-accessible school bus

Voters at a special town meeting on June 4 approved a $126,847.87 appropriation to purchase a wheelchair-accessible school bus for the East Windsor Board of Education.

Tom Lansner introduced the measure and Superintendent Dr. Patrick Tudrin explained the rationale: the vehicle would support the district’s mandated transition program for students aged 18–22, provide transportation for job-coaching and community placements, and potentially reduce the cost of contracting specialized transportation services. Dr. Tudrin characterized the bus as a new vehicle that would be maintained under existing contracts and that maintenance costs would be built into the district’s maintenance plan.

Board members and residents questioned who would operate and maintain the vehicle, whether it would increase ongoing costs, and how many students would use it. Dr. Tudrin said the program typically serves eight to 12 students per year and that some program costs would remain even if the town continued to contract out transportation. The board clarified the funding source: settlement funds from a lawsuit — which had lapsed into undesignated funds and were reallocated to education — were used to pay for the one-time purchase to avoid creating an ongoing fiscal commitment.

The resolution was adopted by voice vote at the special town meeting.

Ending: The purchase moves forward with one-time settlement funds; the district will integrate the vehicle into maintenance plans and operations and report as needed on operating costs.

Quote: “So the program on average has 8 to 12 students per year,” Superintendent Tudrin said when asked how many students would use the bus.