EPSB disagrees on how to proceed with bus contract

Members of the Evangeline Parish School Board argued over what to do with the district’s bus transportation contract during its meeting Wednesday, February 4.
Board members had the option to approve a three-year contract extension with First Student at a cost of $4.2 million annually, a two percent increase, or bid out the bus transportation contract in the hopes of getting a lower price.
New board member Mike Fontenot said he did not believe the board would be acting fiscally responsible if they simple approve the contract extension and chose not to bid out the contract. He stated the contract is the largest of the district at just over seven percent of the school district’s entire budget.
However, other board members argued that First Student, who has provided transportation services for students for approximately 10 years, has done well and the three times the school district has bid out the contract in the past, First Student was always the lowest by a large margin.
Bobby Deshotel, the longest serving board member, said he was afraid of receiving bids that are even higher than the quoted $4.2 million annual cost, saying the district could be stuck having to pay even more for the same services.
After much debate, the board approved a motion to bid out the contract with a vote of six in favor (Wayne Dardeau, Scott Limoges, Mike Fontenot, Arthur Savoy, Lonnie Sonnier and Darren Vidrine) and five against (Peggy Foreman, Georgianna Wilson, Ellis Guillory, Nancy Hamlin and Bobby Deshotel).
In other business, the board was informed that a new process of picking up children from school at James Stephens was created due to traffic issues causing an unsafe situation in that area. Assistant Superintendent Darwan Lazard said parents show up very early to James Stephens Montessori to pick up their children in the afternoons, sometimes sitting in their vehicles at 1:30 p.m. waiting for the bell to ring at 3 p.m. Residents in the area have complained that all the cars are blocking the roadway and in an emergency situation, an ambulance or other emergency vehicle would not have access to the school campus. Lazard said a new entrance was created and signage will be placed near the school to direct parents to the correct area to pick up their children. He said this should resolve issued with vehicles blocking the roadway. In addition, he said the portion of the roadway on school property has been widened help with traffic flow. To further assist parents who are not yet accustomed to the new process, he said there will be staff out there showing parents where to go.