Cape Girardeau School District will likely stick with current bus provider

Unless board members see otherwise, the Cape Girardeau School District will not be building its own bus system anytime soon.

The Cape Girardeau School Board holds a special meeting at 5 p.m. today to consider a recommendation to accept a new three-year contract for bus service with longtime transportation service provider First Student Inc.

Cincinnati-based First Student was the low bidder, according to Neil Glass, the district's director of administrative services. The recommended bid is for $998,744.40 in 2011-12, $1,021,216.15 in 2012-13, and $1,044,193.51 in the final year, according to agenda information.

"I can tell you this, the companies were very aggressive with their numbers," he said of a bidding process that included four contractors. "That made it fairly easy for me."

Glass has spent the past several months researching the feasibility of the district operating its own fleet of buses. At least at this point, he said, the costs of launching a transportation system wouldn't be as cost-effective as staying with contracted service.

"I'm not saying we won't revisit that in future," he said of the possibility of the district operating busses "It's all about timing and opportunity, and at this time my recommendation will be to go with contracted services," he said.

The board also will consider a staff recommendation on a construction bid package for artificial turf and a track at the Cape Girardeau Central High School Events Stadium, slated for completion in time for the start of the 2011 Tiger football campaign. Low bidder was synthetic turf specialist ATG Sports, with a base bid of $725,556, and a total bid -- including alternate -- at $770,278.

mkittle@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

301 N. Clark Ave. Cape Girardeau, MO