District Acquires 3 New School Buses
Three new, chrome yellow buses will be rolling into Simi Valley next week to transport schoolchildren.
The 20-passenger buses with anti-skid brakes, high, padded seats and lap restraints will transport special education students to and from Simi Valley schools. Purchased from Sunset Bus Co. in Santa Fe Springs, the three will cost a total of $103,044.
The move will save the school district money in maintenance and operating costs, said Frank Smith, director of transportation.
“They are replacing buses that are 15 years old, that are on the tired side and have outlived their usefulness,” Smith said. He said the older buses are “beyond economical use.”
The Simi Valley Unified School District runs 35 buses, more than half of which transport special education students. The average age of the vehicles is 20 years, Smith said. The oldest of the Simi Valley buses was built in 1961, and the newest in 1995.
The Simi Valley school board approved the purchase this week.
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