Recently, the school district decided to replace the old school vans with a newer model. The district purchased four 2025 Ford Transit T350 models to help transport students. 

Director of Safety and Transportation Rob Moser explains that it was time for the old vehicles to be replaced.

“There has always been a replacement plan for district vehicles,” Moser said. “Replacement of aging vehicles which require increased maintenance due to normal wear and tear not only reduces repair costs and helps project a more professional image, but also helps ensure we maintain a safe fleet for student and staff activity transportation.”

According to Moser, upgrading the vans was necessary to allow for more students to be transported per van.

“These four new vans accommodate the highest capacity allowed per state law, offering more capacity than some of our current district vehicles,” Mosser said. “This allows teams to travel together, sometimes requiring only one vehicle rather than two, for their activity trips.”  

However, the upgrades to the fleet weren’t cheap with high base prices and certain changes that were required to be made.

“The base price per van was $52,488,” Moser said. “We pay an additional $5,486 per van to convert them from 12-passenger vehicles to 10-passenger.  This conversion is required per Kansas State Statute which sets 10 passengers as the highest capacity allowed for student transportation in district-owned vehicles.”

For senior Marissa Akehurst, riding in the vans is significantly better than riding on the bus to events.

“I feel like taking the vans is a lot nicer because it’s a lot quieter and you’re just all closer together,” Akehurst said. “You’re always talking a lot more on buses, people are usually on their phones, or they’re sleeping the whole time.” 

Junior Olivia Nzioki feels the same way, seeing many benefits of being in the vans.

“I think it’s much more relaxing and it’s a lot cooler,” Nzioki said. “It’s a lot quieter [and] easier [to take the vans,] I feel like it’s less overstimulating and more of a smooth ride.”