New Fleet of School Buses Anticipated in MNSD

NEWTOWN SQUARE–Starting this July, the Marple Newtown School District will see a brand new fleet of school buses serving the district. But rest assure, parents. The routes and bus drivers will not change, said MNSD Business Administrator Joe Driscoll.

Marple Newtown School Board members unanimously approved the four-year lease agreement with Wolfington Bus Company, a large school bus company operating out of Downingtown, earlier this month.

According to Driscoll, Wolfington's proposal was the best deal in terms of price and service. 

"We’re getting more from what we were getting back in the bus buy-back program," said Driscoll about the district's current program with their current provider Brightbill.

According to Driscoll, the district will see approximately $166,000 in savings per year by switching over to Wolfington. The district was currently paying $847,000 per year to Brightbill but negotiated a deal with Wolfington to pay $681,000 per year.

However, Facilities and Transportation Director Mike Dumin noted that with the new agreement with Wolfington, the district will be responsible for the maintenance of the buses. 

"We did work out a deal that some of the parts will be coming from Wolfington," said Dumin. 

 Starting July 1, all of Marple Newtown School District's buses will be brand new, said Driscoll.