In February, the Connellsville Area School Board unanimously voted to award school bus contracts to two companies, T.A. Nelson and Colborn Bus Lines.
The contract did not include D. Grenaldo Bus Service, which has served the district for more than 60 years.
And that isn't making Charles Grenaldo happy.
Grenaldo said Wednesday his company is still transporting students from Geibel Catholic High School, but no longer for the Connellsville Area School District.
Grenaldo said the district offered him a contract in June 2014 that included a 30-day option to back out of the contract.
“Why would management offer a contract like that?” Grenaldo said, adding that he didn't sign the contract offered by the school district.
School director and head of the transportation committee Kevin Lape said following Wednesday's school board meeting that Grenaldo isn't serving the district because he didn't sign the new contract. He said the district offered new contracts to save money. Without signing the contract, Grenaldo could not provide transportation for the district.
Grenaldo said he did not give up his runs, but they were taken from him. Other bus companies picked the routes up.
Lape said along with T.A. Nelson and Colborn Bus Lines, the vans to transport students are contracted under other companies.
Connellsville Area School Board on Wednesday thanked the district's retiring business manager for years of service.
Earlier in the week, the board announced Eugene Cunningham would retire effective April 5.
“I can't tell you how beneficial you've been to me,” said Director Francis Mongell. “Enjoy retirement and thank you very much.”
“The last few years took a toll on business managers,” said Connellsville Area Superintendent Dan Lujetic, stating with education budget cuts from the state and a statewide freeze on reimbursements to school districts, it's made it tough. “It's a tough job and keeps getting harder and harder.”
Cunningham, who was the district business manager for 17 years, thanked the board, the administration and the staff for their support.
In other business, the board voted to enter into a contract with Ford Business Machines in Connellsville, which will cover the cost of eliminating the two contracts the district is currently under for the copy and printer machines in the district.
During Monday's non-voting work session, John Garlow with Ford Business Machines said his contract will be five years. When it ends in 2020, the district will own all of the machines and will have the option to enter into a contract with his company for maintenance and repair.
On Wednesday, the board also entered into a contract with Marian Chambers for grant writing. She stated in her proposal to the board she would not get paid unless a grant was approved and then her fee would be 10 percent of the grant, which the school district could pay or the fee can be included in the grant payment.
Chambers said she has written grant applications for the district, as well as for other school districts. She said there are three sources of funding for grants — federal and state agencies and private foundations.
“I'm very interested in working with you,” she said. “The demographics here are very good for grants.”
Both contracts are pending the review and approval of the district solicitor.
Mark Hofmann is a staff writer with Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-626-3539 .
