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During its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Clark County Public Schools Board of Education tackled an under-the-radar but vital issue, district vehicles.

The board unanimously approved a partnership with Enterprise – pending review of the contract by Board Attorney Rebecca McCoy – to replace its aging fleet.

Currently, 70 percent of the district’s 21 vehicles are ten years or older. The average mileage on a district vehicle’s odometer is over 95,000 miles.

“We have an aging maintenance fleet and we were looking at creative ideas to be able to update our fleet because if not, we are going to need to purchase some vehicles pretty soon,” said CCPS Chief Operations Officer Brandon Watkins.

An alternative to making several massive purchases is the partnership with Enterprise.

Catherine Blazer from Enterprise briefed the board on the specifics of the program.

“We do everything fleet related, so we’d be working with the school district to help them acquire vehicles, track maintenance and track fuel,” Blazer said.

Enterprise would work with the district’s transportation officials to lease a set number of vehicles yearly. It would also help the district sell its existing fleet as part of a five-year cycle to upgrade the fleet.

“The biggest value we see is an opportunity is to help you all sell vehicles which is something the school district hasn’t taken advantage of is its resale. You all buy vehicles extremely well,” Blazer said. “

The sales would help offset the expense of leasing new vehicles.

Blazer explained that upgrading the fleet would also lower the combined maintenance cost.

“In the first year, the school district’s maintenance cost will go from $43,000 to $9,000,” she said.

According to Enterprise’s proposal, the agreement will save the school district over $650,000 over ten years.

Graduation date set

The end of the tenure of George Rogers Clark High School Class of 2023 is official.

Commencement will be Friday, May 26, at 7 p.m. The last day of school for students is currently scheduled for May 25.

For more graduation information, stay tuned to GRC and district social media.

In other business, the board…

• Voted to accept a bid from Toadvine Enterprises to replace the bleachers in the Campbell Junior High School gym. The bid is projected to cost $227,000.
• Accepted a bid totaling $95,000 to replace the gym flooring at Strode Station Elementary School.
• Honored the GRC Kentucky United Nations Assembly delegation and the district’s high school and middle school orchestra program for receiving distinguished ratings.
• Approved a wage study for district building support staff.