Birnie responds to contract loss

Utica City School District will switch to a new bus company after its contract with Birnie Bus expires in June.

Birnie says it is disappointed to end the nearly 25-year working relationship with the district.

Birnie bus company after nearly 25 years.

The utica school superintendent tells newschannel two that the district will save roughly five million dollars over the length of a five- year contract going with "durham", out of illinois.

The v-p of operations for birnie says he made the district aware of inconsistencies with the bidding process.

Rocky corigliano adds quote: "the district decided to present the board's approval of the over ten million dollar annual multi-year contract on the consent agenda with other normal recurring board business...there by by- passing taxpayers' ability to question the board on this significant change and expenditure.

Birnie bus has remained ready, willing, and able to provide transportation services throughout the pandemic despite not receiving any financial support from the district since march 2020.

Birnie bus also continues to provide transportation to special needs students without a contract, and to date without payment for those services."

School superintendent bruce karam says the district put out a request for proposals, as required by law, and durham came in as the lowest responsible bidder.

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