By Lisa Wilcox
Staff Writer
The students of the two schools that make up School Union 122 will be enjoying a newer, safer ride to and from school soon as Interim Superintendent Roland Caron announced he has acquired one new bus for New Sweden School and three new buses for Woodland School.
Caron began the application process with the state months ago. He was required to demonstrate a real need for an updated mode of transportation to officials, which, the superintendent asserted, he had no trouble doing.
“It boils down to a question of safety,” Caron admitted was his main argument to the state.
According to Caron, New Sweden was down one bus and did not have a spare in the event of a breakdown, and Woodland’s entire bus fleet was in constant need of repair.
“They’re in pretty rough shape,” Caron said about Woodland’s buses. “I’m very happy we were approved.”
The state provides the buses, each valued at around $80,000, to schools on a low-interest loan. They also subsidize a large portion of the cost, bringing the school’s portion down to around $7,000 per bus.
Caron made the announcements regarding the buses to the New Sweden and Woodland school boards at each school’s January monthly meeting. Board members were pleased to hear of Caron’s success and further discussion will follow during upcoming budget meetings.
Because of a short month and winter vacation, the two boards are taking February off, but will resume in March with their budget meetings. New Sweden School will meet on Thursday, March 7, at 6:30 p.m., and Woodland will meet on Monday, March 11, at 6:30 p.m., both at their respective schools.
