Education
Timpanogos and Aspen Peaks Districts partner on bus facility lease
Jennifer Thomas | Lehi Free Press
The Timpanogos School District (TSD) and the Aspen Peaks School District (APSD) have finalized a joint transportation agreement to share maintenance facilities, parking infrastructure, and personnel for an upcoming fleet of roughly 80 buses.
According to TSD, it has established a Memorandum of Understanding with APSD. Under the agreement, TSD will lease space at the APSD transportation facility.
“This collaborative arrangement is designed to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective services for the district’s anticipated fleet of approximately 80 buses,” TSD officials said. They will reportedly have at least 90 parking stalls and two-and-a-half maintenance shop bays.
“In the split, each district will get a number of buses to commensurate with the student population in that district,” said Tyler Vigue, Timpanogos School District Director of Communications.
According to Vigue, both districts will “share five support personnel.”
“The shared support personnel will generally provide the same maintenance and fleet service to the buses owned by each district, reducing redundancies in those roles. Each district will have their own ‘Transportation Director’ to administer the work of transportation for their respective district fleet,” stated Vigue.
“There will be overlap in maintenance, but there will be clear divisions within the space for the parking of the buses,” continued Vigue.
The TSD Board of Education approved a three-year lease payment plan. They will pay the first two years by giving APSD their allocated “vehicle parts inventory” to cover lease costs. They will pay the final year by “transferring ownership of a portable administrative office trailer that TSD will install at the site,” according to TSD officials.
“This is a three-year agreement that could be renewed in the future,” clarified Vigue.
The collaborative arrangement aims to optimize operational efficiency, ensure high-quality vehicle safety and lower overall overhead costs for area taxpayers.
“We are so grateful for our partners in Aspen Peaks who have been willing to accommodate our needs and have afforded us this opportunity to continue our collaborative working relationship,” said Superintendent Joe Jensen. “And we appreciate the support of the public as we worked through this process, while striving to maximize resources that keep our focus on our core mission of helping every student thrive.”
“We know that at the end of the day, everyone involved cares about all of the students and employees impacted by this reconfiguration of school districts, and we are so grateful for the collaborative approach of those who have made this arrangement possible; especially our counterparts in Aspen Peaks,” stated Vigue. “Considering the timing and many other challenges facing these new school districts, we are thrilled to have this opportunity to avoid unnecessary expenses and burdens on employees, administrators, citizens and taxpayers.”
