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UCISD buys seven new vehicles


Purchases will benefit multiple departments

Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District board of trustees approved an estimated $258,047 to update the district’s vehicle fleet, including the purchase of two new 2022 Ford F150 trucks, four 2023 Chevrolet Suburbans, and one 2023 Ford Explorer.

The vehicles will be assigned for use in various departments, and many will be purchased from Silsbee Ford in Silsbee, Texas, said UCISD assistant superintendent Beth Reavis.

She said this dealership was able to procure fleet vehicles at lower prices. The vehicles are slated for delivery in the fall, but Reavis said the purchase order needed to be sent in to secure a vehicle for delivery. 

Two 2022 F150 trucks, totaling $55,310, will be used in the newly-established family outreach department. The district will use Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief funds for the purchase. These vehicles were originally approved by the board in October of 2021, but Reavis said administrators had been unable to find any available vehicles.

“The newly-established family outreach specialist department requires a total of two vehicles to make home visits to provide assistance to families with students that have not returned to school following the COVID pandemic,” said UCISD Superintendent Hal Harrell when the purchase was first requested.

One 2023 Explorer with a grill guard, at a cost of $30,178, will be assigned to the Regional Day School for the Deaf. Traditionally the district has rented a vehicle for the teacher to provide services to students in the surrounding five counties, Reavis said. She said the district evaluated rental costs and considered employee safety in making the decision. The district will use special education funds for the purchase.

Four 2023 Chevrolet Suburbans totaling $172,559, or $43,139.90 each, will be used for extra-curricular student travel and for staff travel to conferences and trainings. Reavis said the district currently has two 2017 Ford Expeditions, and they are constantly in use. The district will continue to use the two Expeditions until they have reached the end of their useful life. 

Reavis said that because there are only two vehicles available, staff frequently uses their personal vehicles to travel for school business. She said the administration evaluated the spending on mileage reimbursements, fleet vehicle logs, and rental fees, and the purchase costs will be offset by staff and student travel cost savings.

The district will use local funds for the purchase.

The board unanimously approved all the purchases on March 28.