DCSS Transportation Committee sends items to full board

ALBANY, Ga. — The Dougherty County School Board’s Transportation Committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to move several items to the full school board for final approval.

The committee voted to move the purchase of seven additional school buses when the state releases bond allocation money later next month. This move comes on the heels of the School Board approving the purchase of five new buses with SPLOST money earlier this month, boosting the total of new buses to 12.

DCSS Transportation Director Kenneth Williams said he would present bus specifics and the exact cost of each when the School Board meets Wednesday.

In addition, the committee approved the purchase of 92 DVR cameras to finish replacing the bus fleet’s defective recording systems. The exchange cost is $690 per unit. The replacements will be paid for with SPLOST money.

The committee also approved Williams’ recommendation to hire a temporary mechanic for six months from Albany Technical College.

A request to declare 26 old buses, seven vehicles and seven pieces of equipment surplus will also be sent to the board.

Williams presented the results of a one-day survey of illegal passing of stopped school buses in the county.

During that period, drivers reported 29 illegal passes in the morning, one at midday and 50 in the afternoon.

“We’d like for drivers in the county to be as sensitive as they can be to school bus stop signs,” Transportation consultant Jack Willis said. “You never can tell when a kid will pop out of nowhere.”