Lee County school district welcomes new bus fleet

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Lee County school district has welcomed a new fleet of buses in an effort to save money on maintenance costs.

The buses are produced by three different companies and include a variety of safety features that include security cameras, GPS and more reliable engines. The air conditioning is a major plus, too, said Robert Codie, the district’s director of transportation.

“Mind you, we transport a 100,000 students a day — 50,000 in the morning, 50,000 in the evening — with AC in these Florida temperatures in the summer time, that’s vital,” he said.

The district has 275 buses that require $8000 in maintenance, a feat that would cost the county more than $2 million a year. Bob Dolan, an account manager for bus sales, said it was time to purchase new vehicles.

“As school buses get older, the maintenance costs get dramatic as like your own car at home and there’s a point the maintenance cost outweighs the cost of a new bus,” he said.