Aspen View Public Schools is seeking bids for a contract to run approximately half of the division's school bus routes.
The school division announced June 27 that it was issuing a request for proposals (RFP) for the operation of 31 school bus routes throughout Athabasca, Boyle, Grassland and Thorhild. The RFP follows from a June 21 school board meeting, where trustees voted unanimously to issue the request after an in-camera session.
School board chair Dennis MacNeil said in a June 27 press release the board wants to explore all its options.
“The Board believes it is prudent at this time to explore all available options, including those offered by First Student and other student transportation providers,” board chair Dennis MacNeil said.
The routes in question are currently contracted by First Student Canada and represent approximately half of the division's total bus routes. Aspen View communications officer Ross Hunter said the school's division's contract with First Student began in 2002-03 and had been renewed annually through negotiation since 2005-06.
"Aspen View and First Student were unable to reach an agreement on Schedule A for the 2018-19 school year," Hunter said in an email, referring to the rate schedule, which is included in the RFP.
The contract will be for a three-year period and was posted June 25, according to the June 27 division press release. The bid is open for student transportation provides, including First Student Canada.
MacNeil declined an interview request to discuss the announcement and said it would be inappropriate to comment further on an open tender.
A request for comment to First Student Canada was not returned before publish time.
The RFP, posted to Alberta Purchasing Connection, includes the rating system bids will be evaluated on. Criteria include the carrier profile's safety record, qualifications, overall mechanical reliability of fleet, references, safety procedures, training program and bidder reputation.
First Student negotiations
Aspen View Public Schools had been in negotiations with First Student Canada in the weeks before the RFP was made.
The school board made a motion April 24 to seek legal counsel to regarding transportation operations, specifically regarding "provisions to ensure safe and reliable delivery of transportation services," according to the motion.
In a May interview, MacNeil said the division subsequently reviewed its agreement with First Student Canada.
“I can tell you there were some things we found that we were less than happy with,” MacNeil said. “We wanted to make sure all of those issues were addressed before moving on.”
First Student Canada was also the subject of an investigation by the Athabasca Advocate into school bus safety.
In that investigation, three incidents involving First Student buses were highlighted. These included a wheel falling off a bus in Grassland transporting two students March 21, a muffler falling off a bus on the same route March 22, and a bus being used for a Grassland School field trip April 18 overheating.
First Student Canada launched a “full investigation” into the March 21 incident, according to company spokesperson Jay Brock. A request for comment to First Student on the results of that investigation were not returned before publish time.
The contract is to last for a three-year period from Aug. 29, 2018 to June 30, 2021. The contract will be awarded July 16.
Thorhild crash
Another First Student bus was involved in a tragic collision in Thorhild March 7, which caused the death of Thorhild Central School student Maisie Watkinson. The death prompted Aspen View Public Schools to have a third-party review done of its transportation policies and procedures.
An RCMP investigation into the Thorhild Crash remains ongoing. RCMP media relations Cpl. Ronald Bumbry said in a June 29 interview no charges have been laid and there was no further update to provide.
