Margaret Evans wants a good deal on a used car — well, a used van anyway.
Evans, transportation supervisor for the South Whidbey School District, is shopping for a good, safe, used van to add to the district’s motorpool.
The Washington State Patrol’s recent audit of the district’s transportation equipment found the three 15-passenger vans the district currently owns do not meet state code to carry students. According to the Washington Administrative Code, any nonconforming van designed to carry more than 10 people must meet specific federal standards to transport public school children.
The big vans failed when it came to rollover testing. Rollover tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association found certain vans were unsafe for public school transportation. The South Whidbey district owned three vans that failed to meet the association’s standard.
Now, the vans must be consigned to nonpassenger use.
“The vans were primarily used for extracurricular activities,” Evans said. “They will still be used to haul equipment and can carry up to five adults. They will be useful for football and other activities with a lot of equipment.”
So, Evans is looking for a van in good running order. She has purchased one eight-passenger Chevrolet Astro van and has enough in the budget for a similar purchase. An additional $20,000 was shifted into the transportation budget this year to buy new vans.
“I am very grateful to Superintendent Laster and the school board for the funding,” Evans said.
The district does have smaller school buses, but they are not as economical to operate as passenger vans.
“Ferry transportation is more expensive and labor costs are more because they (vans) must be operated by one of the district’s bus drivers,” Evans said. School bus drivers are required to have commercial driver’s licenses.
To drive students in an Astro or similar van, drivers — who are often coaches and teachers — must only pass a defensive driving class, be first aid and CPR certified and watch a video about emergency procedures.
Evans also personally evaluates the skills of all van drivers.
The eight-passenger vans won’t entirely replace the district’s three vans, so the district will use a special education van that was recently freed for service.
