The Calcasieu Parish School Board put the power to decide which buses are replaced back into the hands of the transportation department at a meeting on Tuesday.

In November 2023, the board approved the purchase of air-conditioned buses with the intention of the buses being assigned to the longest bus routes by distance. Yesterday, the board unanimously agreed to remove the condition that the buses on the longest bus routes be replaced first, as buses are typically replaced by age.

Prior to the motion that was passed last year, the board did not determine which buses would be replaced.

Superintendent Jason VanMetre said at the meeting that the transportation department typically replaces buses by age and not route distance. Altering the procedure could lead to newer buses on longer routes being replaced while old buses without air conditioning are still on the road.

Additionally, it is difficult to determine which buses have the longest route because some buses drive platoon routes throughout the day.

He also noted that getting repair parts for old buses is more difficult.

Transportation Director Aaron McDonald explained that CPSB has a fleet of about 300 buses. Approximately 60 of these buses have air conditioning.

“We’re about a third of the way through,” he said. “We’re getting those buses off the fleet that are no longer serviceable in the same manner for our students.”

He said if CPSB purchases 15 to 25 school buses per year, the entire fleet could have air conditioning in seven to eight years.

School buses are safe to drive for 20 to 25 years, he said.

The old school buses that are replaced will be added to the spare fleet.

Dean Roberts, District 6, motioned that the assignment of buses is at the Transportation Department’s discretion. The board unanimously adopted this motion.