The 66-seat passenger buses will be assigned to Saipan, which has 10 primary, two middle and three public high schools.
According to John Babauta, PSS procurement officer, they are scheduled to receive the new vehicles on Jan. 15.
The contractor is GSA company, based in the U.S., and the buses cost nearly half a million dollars, which came from the Federal Transit Administration.
Each bus costs $96,000, Babauta said.
PSS has said that it wants all public schools to have their own buses for their students.
The lack of buses has been a concern for some parents.
PSS opened school year 2008-2009 in September with 11 buses — or four less than the last school year’s figure.
The limited number of vehicles means more work for the bus drivers.
PSS has 26 buses: 18 on Saipan, four on Rota and four on Tinian. It also has 12 mini-vans for its special education program.
However, some of these vehicles are undergoing repairs.
To maintain its vehicles, PSS has implemented a rule requiring students to ask their parents or guardians to sign waivers.
PSS said it is a child’s right to receive free public education and to be able to ride to school, but when a student damages government property, he and his parents will be held responsible.
