JACKSON TRANSPORTATION ISSUES DISCUSSED

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Education approved the purchase of four new buses and a districtwide radio communication system during a meeting Tuesday night.

Three bus lines competed for the right to furnish additional buses for district transportation next year. Board members opted to purchase four 1999 Blue Bird buses from Central States Bus Sales for a total of $59,285.

The bid was not the lowest submitted. However, administrators said it offered the best bargain because it included 83-passenger, transient-type buses for only $9,000 more than submitted bids which included 65-passenger vehicles.

"The price was so close between the 65-passengers and the 83-passengers that we felt it was to our benefit to recommend the higher bid," said Dr. Terry Gibbons, assistant superintendent for finance and support services. "The way we have some subdivisions in this area and the way it's growing, we felt these fit our needs better."

Board members also approved the purchase of a $48,000 radio communication system to be used in school buildings, buses, and transportation and administrative offices throughout the district. The system's primary purpose will be to enable reliable daily and emergency communication on a districtwide basis, said Gibbons.

Bids were received from G&D Communications in Sikeston; JCS/Tel-Link in Cape Girardeau; Dittronics Inc. in Benton; and Battles Communications in Dexter. School administrators recommended acceptance of the G&D Communications bid because of the lower monthly charges for services.

The district currently has some 24 cellular phones for use on school buses, but these are unusable in outlying areas of the district, school officials said. The radios are usable throughout the entire district and will enable bus drivers to communicate with each other.

"With these radios the buses will be able to communicate with each other, like in the case when they're following behind each other," said Carol Woods, assistant transportation director. "With this we could also communicate with all the buses at one time."

The ability to issue districtwide announcements on the radio would be of great use during weather warnings or emergency situations, said schools superintendent Dr. Howard Jones. The system also offers a direct line to the Cape Girardeau Sheriff's Department for use in emergencies, he said.

"It's a situation where we may never need it, but if we do need it, we need it," said Jones. "It goes way beyond just being a transportation issue."