This Week's version 2
Petermann also said it will supply 55 new buses, Reade said. The buses will have public address systems, ''which is something we don't have now and something our drivers would like to have,'' she said.
''Depending on where they locate the bus facility, the district would realize savings both in terms of fuel and staff for a long time,'' Brink said. ''That difference was a pretty large effect overall ... The second effect was ... an effect of using a newer fleet.''
Brink said he compared the bidders through a variety of scenarios, using details such as cost per bus, cost for labor and number of routes.
''It basically puts all of them on the same playing field,'' he said.
Using those scenarios, he estimated that choosing Petermann over Laidlaw would save the district about $100,000 per year for the first three years of the contract.
Reade also said that Petermann has produced ''glowing results'' in other districts for which it provides transportation, including Cincinnati Public Schools and Lakota Local Schools in Butler County.
''In 83 years, they have never lost a contract,'' Reade said.
She said the company's experience would benefit the growing Pickerington district.
''I looked at this as if it was up to every other vendor to convince or prove to me why we shouldn't keep Laidlaw,'' Sanders said. ''... But I didn't have any problems with the service that we were currently provided with Laidlaw.''
Sanders said her concerns were with the company's current proposal: that it did not submit a five-year proposal and that it also said if its health care costs increased by more than 15 percent ''then they would have to renegotiate.''
Brink said he wants to ensure that the contract with Petermann specifies the location of the transportation facility and reflects the ''cost analysis.''
In other words, he said, ''If we're picking Petermann over Laidlaw because of a significantly lower price, I want to make sure that we see a significantly lower price when the bills come in.''
Worried bus drivers, concerned about what will happen to their jobs should the district change providers, have spoken at board meetings and sent e-mails to board members.
''There's been a lot of emotion in this,'' Reade said. ''It's their job; it's their livelihood. They have every right to be unsettled.''
Sanders said that ''everybody'' wanted to ensure that Petermann will keep as many current drivers, mechanics and other employees as it believes is possible, and that the company has said it will do so.
Petermann also said it will supply 55 new buses, Reade said. The buses will have public address systems, ''which is something we don't have now and something our drivers would like to have,'' she said.
''Depending on where they locate the bus facility, the district would realize savings both in terms of fuel and staff for a long time,'' Brink said. ''That difference was a pretty large effect overall ... The second effect was ... an effect of using a newer fleet.''
Brink said he compared the bidders through a variety of scenarios, using details such as cost per bus, cost for labor and number of routes.
''It basically puts all of them on the same playing field,'' he said.
Using those scenarios, he estimated that choosing Petermann over Laidlaw would save the district about $100,000 per year for the first three years of the contract.
Reade also said that Petermann has produced ''glowing results'' in other districts for which it provides transportation, including Cincinnati Public Schools and Lakota Local Schools in Butler County.
''In 83 years, they have never lost a contract,'' Reade said.
She said the company's experience would benefit the growing Pickerington district.
''I looked at this as if it was up to every other vendor to convince or prove to me why we shouldn't keep Laidlaw,'' Sanders said. ''... But I didn't have any problems with the service that we were currently provided with Laidlaw.''
Sanders said her concerns were with the company's current proposal: that it did not submit a five-year proposal and that it also said if its health care costs increased by more than 15 percent ''then they would have to renegotiate.''
Brink said he wants to ensure that the contract with Petermann specifies the location of the transportation facility and reflects the ''cost analysis.''
In other words, he said, ''If we're picking Petermann over Laidlaw because of a significantly lower price, I want to make sure that we see a significantly lower price when the bills come in.''
Worried bus drivers, concerned about what will happen to their jobs should the district change providers, have spoken at board meetings and sent e-mails to board members.
''There's been a lot of emotion in this,'' Reade said. ''It's their job; it's their livelihood. They have every right to be unsettled.''
Sanders said that ''everybody'' wanted to ensure that Petermann will keep as many current drivers, mechanics and other employees as it believes is possible, and that the company has said it will do so.
