Thursday, October 1, 2026
Valley Stream District 13 continues to study the possibility of transitioning from contracted transportation services to owning and operating its own bus fleet, following a proposal first introduced last year by former trustee Anthony Bonelli.
The district has partnered with the Franklin-Essex-Hamilton BOCES based in upstate Malone to conduct an in-depth feasibility study, with a final report expected next month.
“These superintendents, they speak a good tune,” Bonelli said. “But, it’s all nonsense unless you do the numbers.”
Bonelli has argued that moving to a district-owned transportation model could result in significant long-term cost savings. His own independent financial analysis projects that an upfront investment in a fleet of 38 gas-powered, short shuttle buses — each estimated at $97,000 — would cost the district roughly $3.7 million in purchase costs. With added expenses for maintenance, insurance, parking and labor, total first-year costs would rise to $5.5 million.
Bonelli also outlines several child safety advantages of a district-owned fleet. These include eliminating diesel exhaust, outfitting all buses with three-point seat belts, installing stop-arm cameras and interior cameras, using shuttle-type vehicles that are easier to drive, and ensuring that no child is seated more than 30 feet from the driver.
District 13 currently contracts with nine different bus companies. Since the pandemic, transportation costs have increased from $1.9 million in 2019 to $4.2 million in 2023. Costs are projected to continue climbing, with Bonelli estimating a 3 percent annual increase reaching $4.6 million by 2029 if the current model remains in place.
Through the Franklin-Essex-Hamilton BOCES Transportation Planning Service, the district commissioned a study to evaluate the proposal more thoroughly. This statewide service offers customized support for school districts considering shifts in transportation operations.
The assessment for District 13 includes routing efficiency, staffing, vehicle maintenance, storage, management costs and compliance. The service is led by transportation experts Paul Overbaugh and Gregg Diefenbach, both bring decades of experience in school transportation and public education finance.
“When I was in office as a school trustee, Dr. LaRocca referenced at the annual budget presentations bus studies to be provided for by a BOCES and/or in-house consultant to address transportation costs,” Bonelli said. “In February of this year, I requested a copy of such a report and was informed none existed. Furthermore, such reports were never given to the trustees of the school board. Why the secrecy, why the intentionally wasteful tax money expenditures?”
Superintendent Judith LaRocca claims the study is still ongoing and no decisions have been made.
“With operational costs continuing to increase, we take our fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers with the utmost seriousness,” district officials said in a statement. We are committed to pursuing every possible avenue to save taxpayer dollars … This custom-tailored assessment examines all logistical aspects of operating a bus fleet.”
The district noted that, as it currently owns no buses, it is not under immediate obligation to comply with the state’s zero-emissions mandate for school vehicles. Under Gov. Kathy Hochul’s initiative, all new buses purchased after 2027 must be zero-emission, and all school fleets must fully transition by 2035.
Bob Vecchio, Executive Director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association, said that more districts are weighing their transportation options in light of increasing costs and the governor’s zero-emissions mandate. However, he cautioned that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, as each district’s outcome will depend on its unique circumstances, including size and infrastructure.
Bonelli’s plan anticipates the transition and frames early investment in a gas-powered fleet to save now while preparing for eventual electrification. He included a spare bus in his plan to account for emergencies or expanded ridership and proposed potential solutions to storage concerns, such as expanding parking lots at Willow and Dever schools if needed.
The district expects to review the findings of the BOCES study in the coming month. Any decision to shift transportation operations in-house will follow further evaluation and public discussion.
