Arvon Township School Board approves terms with Lamers Bus Lines pending contract draft to resume busing when neighboring schools reopen

The Arvon Township School Board on Dec. 17 discussed and largely agreed to terms with Lamers Bus Lines to restart transportation for Arvon students who attend L'Anse and Baraga schools if those districts resume face-to-face instruction.

Jon Evenson, representing Lamers Bus Lines, told the board Lamers plans contracts based on 180 service days and prefers multiyear agreements but offered to extend the district's present contract for one year and later discuss a new three-year deal. Evenson said Lamers expects L'Anse and Baraga to open for in-person classes on Jan. 4, 2021, and that Arvon Township routes could begin when the district completes a parent survey and receives responses by early January.

The discussion covered rates and contingencies. Lamers indicated it would prepare a draft contract and a Memorandum of Understanding specifying a daily charge of $231.63 per day when school is operating and a 50% payment if service is not needed because the district remains virtual. Lamers told the board it structures pay around 180 days of service. The company also said it would waive a mileage surcharge and not increase mileage in the MOU despite concerns that a single route could exceed about 85 miles per day, a point raised by Lori Johnson.

Lamers also agreed to contact L'Anse and Baraga schools to obtain a census of expected riders and to notify Arvon Township if any homeless students need transportation so the parties can arrange cost sharing. Evenson told the board Lamers would keep Arvon Township informed about transport of any students belonging to the intermediate school district.

Board members said they accepted the proposed terms with one exception: Nancy Soli did not join the consensus. The company said a draft contract would be available to the district by the middle of the following week. The board scheduled a follow-up Zoom meeting for Dec. 30 at 6:00 PM to discuss and/or approve the new Lamers contract.

The board did not take a formal vote on the contract terms at the Dec. 17 meeting; Lamers will deliver the draft and the board will consider formal action at the Dec. 30 meeting.