Privatization not the solution for safer buses

e-mail this story discuss this issue in our forums Guest column • Ronald P. Townsend: Privatization not the solution for safer buses (02/03/05) • Earle Oxner: South Carolina can't afford tuition tax credits (02/02/05) • James Bache: Water System fees unfairly burden county residents (02/02/05) • Sen. Jim DeMint: Gonzales should be confirmed (02/01/05) • Kelly Frazier: Healthy living is about good habits (02/01/05) More details State Rep. Ronald P. Townsend represents House District 7, which includes parts of Anderson and Abbeville counties. The Republican is chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee. He recently participated on the state task force exploring the privatization of school bus service.

I took exception to this mandate. With the help of many legislators, school bus drivers and supervisors, we amended the proviso to require a study committee. This committee would study the school bus privatization proposal and report back to the General Assembly. This committee met in the fall and recently made its report available. As a member of this committee, I have major concerns about the findings reported.

Competitive bidding from the private sector was touted by some as a way to reduce student transportation costs. The fact is Charleston and Beaufort school districts already have embarked on this concept. In both cases, the costs associated with privatization increased the costs borne by local property owners. It is estimated that privatization costs Charleston County property owners an additional $9.7 million in taxes even though state-owned school buses and maintenance facilities are still utilized.

Competition, finding the best price at the lowest cost and cost comparisons are generally considered good business practices. However, it is not always best to rely on the cheapest bidder as the most capable. When transporting children, quality, reliability, cost savings and safety should be considered.

State law makes it clear that a school board of trustees already has the authority to issue an RFP for its district — to hire a private company to run its buses. A new mandate is unnecessary. A board is elected to manage the district and knows their needs better than Columbia.

Our current school bus transportation system began in 1951 when the General Assembly passed the first 3 cents sales tax. That same year 1,700 school districts were consolidated into 109 districts. Today, approximately 5,600 school buses owned and operated by the state transport over 475,000 children to and from school daily.

South Carolina is the only state that owns and operates its school buses. There are a variety of systems across the nation but according to some transportation industry figures, our bus system is the seventh most efficient system in the nation. Our buses are some of the safest. They are designed for safety, durability and comfort of all students.

The state Department of Education competitively bids for buses. Bus vendors must base their quotes on our stringent specifications established by a School Bus Specification Committee. This committee is made up of school bus supervisors, bus mechanics and safety experts. The safety of our children is of utmost importance. Privatization could threaten the safety and quality of our existing system. If vendors with contracts dependent on profits use a less safe bus, would parents feel their children were being transported as safely? If a bus accident takes the life of a child and the bus company is not using the safest buses, "Penny wise and pound foolish" may be the best description of a privatization decision.

I believe we have the best school bus system in the nation. We have competent and qualified drivers and maintenance people who do a superb job of keeping our buses running.

What is sorely needed in South Carolina is a 12-year replacement cycle for buses. The General Assembly's commitment to implement such a cycle and fund it annually would ensure safer and more reliable transportation for all our children. No additional burden on local property taxes to pay for privatization would be needed and the commitment made with the first 3 cents of sales tax to provide for the transportation needs of all our students would be kept.

As a member of the General Assembly, I believe that it is the state's responsibility to provide transportation for our public schools and not the local property taxpayers.