The Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education has approved a resolution to solicit bids for financing the purchase of three 77-passenger school buses and related equipment from Capital City International Trucks, Inc. in Lansing.

The action came Monday evening (February 8th) as a follow-up to the board’s January 25th meeting when information about work toward implementation of single bus runs and the purchase of buses was presented.

The buses will be purchased through the Michigan School Business Officials (MSBO) Bus Purchase Program.  The total cost for the buses shown in the resolution is “an amount not to exceed $249,681.”

According to Superintendent Roger Rathburn, the district will probably have five or six financial institutions bid on the financing and, in all likelihood, the board will go with the lowest bidder.

In other business, the board approved a list of 67 graduates for the Adult Education graduation held on January 29th.  Rathburn said, “That’s the first time we had a graduation in mid-year with Adult Education.  The staff wanted to insure that they had the experience or memories of having a graduation because a number of those graduates will be moving on, either relocating or joining the military or going off to college.”  He said the staff felt that, if the district didn’t have a graduation this winter, many of the students may not be around for the usual graduation ceremony in the spring.  Regarding the Adult Education graduates, Rathburn said, “We’re pretty proud of them and the number of graduates that we have had this year so far in Adult Education.”  (Roger_Rathburn audio clip – :47)

Monday’s meeting also featured a presentation by Food Service Supervisor Mike Clipfell regarding the Food Service – what’s happening with that aspect of the school system, how they’re trying to trim costs, pricing, the commodities market, plans for next year, and how they’re trying to be environmentally friendly with what they’re using.

The regular meeting was followed by a lengthy closed session for the purpose of strategizing for negotiations.