Lincoln-Way to Purchase New Buses, Add Smaller Vehicles to Address Driver Shortage

LW210 Board of Education Meeting | October 16, 2025

Article Summary: Lincoln-Way District 210 plans to update its transportation fleet by purchasing 28 new gasoline-powered school buses, three activity buses, and five sprinter vans. The smaller vehicles do not require a commercial driver’s license (CDL), a move intended to provide more flexibility for staffing athletic and activity trips amid an ongoing driver shortage.

Bus Fleet Update Key Points:

• The district plans to purchase 28 new gasoline buses to replace part of its aging fleet.

• The plan includes adding three white activity buses and five 10-passenger sprinter vans.

• These smaller vehicles do not require a CDL, making it easier for coaches and other staff to transport small teams and groups.

• The purchases will be funded through a “finance-to-own” model via a debt certificate.

Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 is moving forward with a plan to modernize its bus fleet and improve its ability to cover athletic and activity trips, administration officials announced on Thursday, October 16, 2025. With 32 buses ending their five-year lease, the district will seek bids to purchase 28 new gasoline-powered buses.

According to a memo from Director of Transportation Andy Reasor and Assistant Superintendent Michael Duback, the district has sufficient spare buses to reduce the replacement number from 32 to 28. This reduction allows for the purchase of three additional white activity buses (one for each school) and five 10-passenger “sprinter vans.”

A key advantage of the smaller vehicles is that they do not require drivers to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL). This increases transportation options for smaller teams, like tennis or swimming, allowing a coach or other staff member to drive when a full-size bus and a CDL driver are unavailable.

“A lot of high school athletic departments have additional white activities and vans kind of above and beyond what we currently have,” Dr. Duback explained to the board. “So expanding that would be in line.”

The district is exploring purchasing the sprinter vans through the Sourcewell state contract, which could speed up their procurement. The district will continue its “finance-to-own” model, funding the vehicles with a debt certificate to be repaid from operating budgets. Bid specifications are being finalized, with results expected to be presented to the board in November.