Lisbon (N.Y.) Central School District recently received four new school buses as part of a safety initiative that will ultimately transition it to a fleet run entirely in-house.

The new IC Bus school buses, delivered by school bus dealer Leonard Bus Sales, will be the first to be integrated into the school district’s new fleet, according to a news release from the dealer, and are equipped with electronic stability control and collision mitigation technology. The system works to prevent accidents by using radar to assist the driver by automatically applying the brakes to avoid slides, skids, and loss of control. It also alerts drivers when an unsafe following distance has been reached with other vehicles or if there are stationary objects in the lane ahead.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with our decision to bring our school transportation services in-house,” said Superintendent of Schools Patrick J. Farrand. “I’m thankful to the school board, parents, and taxpayers for allowing us to provide the safest possible ride to and from school for the students of Lisbon Central School District.”

Ninety percent of the cost of the new school buses will be reimbursed by the state of New York over the next five years, while the remaining 10% will be paid over five years via bond by local taxpayers as part of the budget that was approved in June 2020, according to Leonard Bus Sales. The district plans to maintain a planned cycle of new school buses over time, so its school transportation budget remains affordable for taxpayers as well as to ensure the fleet adheres to the highest safety levels possible.

The district will also perform its own school bus inspections, service, and maintenance.

As part of its plan for in-house transportation, the district will now employ more people from the community, train drivers, and manage the fleet to ensure health and safety standards are met or exceeded, according to Leonard Bus Sales.

“In the age of the coronavirus, it is even more imperative that the school district has full control over the safety and health protocols associated with the school bus,” Farrand said. “We couldn’t be more grateful to the entire community for rallying behind this effort. We also want to thank Heuvelton Central School District for helping us maintain and house our school buses during this transition. We know the transition to an in-house school transportation operation is the best thing for the safety and security of our students.”

Lisbon Central School District is considering options for a new transportation maintenance facility and may share one with the Town of Lisbon.

The district is comprised of a 13-acre campus, 584 students, and serves a 92-mile radius with approximately 4,200 residents, according to the school bus dealer.