The Eureka USD 389 Board of Education approved the purchase of two replacement buses and reviewed summer facility updates during its recent board meeting on Monday, July 14.
With nine bus routes—six rural and three in-town— the district is replacing aging vehicles. Bus #4 was deemed too costly to repair and will be retired. In its place, the board approved the purchase of two used buses: a 2018 (53-passenger) for $70,285 from American Bus and a 2017 (47-passenger) for $52,900 from Master’s Transportation.
Both buses are expected before school starts. Bus #21 and Bus #18 will move to the spare fleet. Board members also discussed the long-term costs of leasing versus owning, noting rising lease prices.
During administrative reports, it was noted that facility updates are nearly complete, as well as staff members sharing that enrollment packets were slated to be sent out last week.
The board also entered a 10-minute executive session for personnel matters with Superintendent Scott Hoyt, Eureka Junior/Senior High School (EJSHS) Principal Angie Lowe and EJSHS Assistant Principal Joe Thornburg. After returning to open session, the board approved the resignation of Shelby Bohl as a Marshall Elementary School paraprofessional and the hiring of Samantha Watts as a EJSHS English teacher.
The board approved the consent agenda, which included multiple standard annual appointments, the organizational plan and designated Community National Bank & Trust as a depository for the district.
Board members are planning to serve a picnic meal for district students and parents at the annual open house event on Wednesday, Aug. 20.
The next meeting for the Eureka USD 389 Board of Education is Monday, Aug. 11, at 6 p.m.
