New bus coming to LISD
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

Louise school trustees agreed 7-0 Monday night to purchase a new bus to keep the district's fleet from sliding into decline.

Trustees looked at the cost of two different types of buses as well as possibly leasing a bus or financing a purchase.

The district originally intended to buy a new bus this school year, but cut it from the budget after a tax rollback election forced a change in plans.

But trustees felt the district is barely making do with the buses it does have, especially after Superintendent Andy Peters and school principals told them they've personally had to drive students home from events, as well as use the district's SUV for the same purpose.

This in part is because of the vast number of sports, events and other activities in which students are involved and because one district bus is out of service at this time.

"My opinion is, we need to keep our fleet up-to-date," board member Mark Wendel said.

Trustees chose to purchase a 2009 bus from Thomas Company of Houston, a 72-passenger vehicle that costs $76,000. Trustees voted to pay for the vehicle out of the district's fund balance. That savings account stands at 45 percent of the district's annual operating costs, Peters said.