Board approves purchase of two used school buses to address aging fleet

The Montague Area Public Schools board voted to purchase two used buses from Mahal Bus Company at $83,000 each, for a total of $166,000, to replace older 2007 and 2008 buses in the district fleet.

Finance Director Stacy Brown said the buses are 2024 models coming off lease with between 30,000 and 40,000 miles and that the district wants to refresh one bus per year to maintain reliability. She compared the cost to a brand‑new gasoline bus, which she said runs about $142,000, and described the purchase as a cost‑effective way to upgrade the fleet.

Board members discussed fuel types and maintenance: the transcript records conversation about diesel versus gasoline buses and higher maintenance/emissions‑system costs on diesel models, but did not produce a definitive cost comparison beyond the per‑unit purchase price. The motion to approve the purchase carried by voice vote; the transcript does not list a roll‑call tally.