Weinstein showcases Grace Kelly, Mandela flicks

Family and friends celebrate Dave Brubeck's life

First Posted: 5/20/2013 DALLAS TWP. &#8212; The Dallas School Board may have hit a major bump in the road to a new bus-transportation contract: G. Davis Inc., the Pike County company awarded a five-year contract at a May 6 meeting, is seeking a court injunction barring the board from reconsidering that decision in the wake of public criticism at a May 13 meeting.
The board took the unusual step of allowing the two companies that had submitted proposals &#8212; G. Davis and Dallas-based Emanuel Bus Lines, which has transported district students for decades &#8212; to revise their proposals. Solicitor Ben Jones III said language in the original request for proposals provided to interested companies allowed that move.
Emanuel submitted a new proposal, lowering the cost substantially and promising to update at least five buses in its aging fleet. G. Davis did not submit a reworked offer, opting instead to file for the injunction.
Superintendent Frank Galicki said the board and administration initially decided to cancel the Thursday meeting, going so far as to post a notice on the district website blaming the decision on &#8220;pending litigation.&#8221; But Galicki said an injunction hearing is set for 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, and as a result the Thursday meeting will go on as scheduled at 5 p.m.
Galicki didn&#8217;t discuss the legal issue further but did note that &#8220;time is running out&#8221; for a final decision. The board must pass a final budget for the 2013-14 school year by June 30, and the transportation contract makes up nearly $1 million of the $33.5 million in spending.
Presumably, if the injunction is granted, the board will have to decide on the next step, and if it is not granted the board would have the option to vote again on which company gets the contract.
Emanuel&#8217;s original proposal was substantially higher than G. Davis, costing at least $83,000 a year more, or just shy of $416,000 over the five-year life of the contract. Emanuel was more expensive overall both for daily school transportation and for extra- or co-curricular transportation.
The fact that G. Davis promised all-new buses in the original proposal gave the company an added edge. The state bases transportation reimbursement to districts partly on the age of the bus fleet: The newer the buses, the higher the reimbursement. Going with G. Davis would increase the district&#8217;s reimbursement
But supporters of Emanuel Bus showed up in large numbers at the May 13 meeting, taking turns extolling the company known for providing free bus service to area organizations, and questioning the safety and reliability of an all-propane fleet. The board relented and offered both companies the chance to resubmit proposals.
Emanuel&#8217;s new proposal reduced daily transportation costs by $56,000, making it lower than G. Davis&#8217;s original proposal. Emanuel also reduced extra- and co-curricular transportation costs to $1,613 less than G. Davis and promised to buy two new 2012 diesel buses and four new 2014 buses.
According to the district&#8217;s analysis, that wasn&#8217;t enough to beat the original G. Davis proposal. While Emanuel&#8217;s new offer is cheaper for the actual transportation of students, the 21 new buses promised by G. Davis would still net the district about $30,326 more in state reimbursements. When all the numbers are crunched, G. Davis is still $7,606 cheaper.
Galicki said Jones has recused himself from representing the district at the injunction because he may be called as a witness. The district has retained Howard Levinson as representation.

Injunction might put brakes on bus deal