Arlington voters asked to fund replacement of old school buses

ARLINGTON — The fan belts seem to come loose quicker these days on Bus 22, which has logged nearly a quarter of a million miles in the 23 years it has taken Arlington students to and from school.

It is part of Snohomish County’s oldest school bus fleet.

Last year, the bus had several breakdowns while driver Carol Mitzelfeldt waited for students at school. Mechanics eventually replaced the starter, but parts were hard to come by.

“These old buses have gremlins in them and you never can tell,” she said. “The buses are just getting older and we could really use newer ones.”

Nearly half the fleet is at least 13 years old and fully depreciated, meaning they are too old to be eligible for state matching money that helps pay for new buses. Without additional funding, 71 percent of the fleet will be fully depreciated in 10 years.

School district leaders hope voters are willing to support a two-year levy on the Nov. 4 general election ballot expected to generate $1.5 million each year for new buses. The money would be used to buy 26 buses, district spokeswoman Andrea Conley said.

New school buses have a safer seating design, larger windshields for better visibility, more emergency exits, stronger frames and improved traction control, she said.

The first-year levy rate is 49 cents per $1,000 of assessed property. That would translate to $147 a year on a $300,000 home.

This is the first time Arlington has run a transportation levy. Roughly 2,400 students take the bus each day. The district has about 5,400 students overall.

Bus No. 32 is a backup these day. It has been on the road for 28 years and has logged 363,564 miles.

Another bus of the same vintage is recently retired and being readied for surplus. The Arlington School District lettering already has been painted over.

District mechanics can’t get parts for one of the old buses.

Many buses are nearing the end of the proverbial road. So far this fall, there have been five bus breakdowns — more than the district has had over some entire school years.

Despite the wear and tear, Arlington’s bus fleet continues to perform well on Washington State Patrol inspections.

Mitzelfeldt credits the district’s mechanics with that.

“If it weren’t for them, there are some buses that wouldn’t be in service right now,” she said

Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

The Washington State University Snohomish County Extension building at McCollum Park is located in an area Snohomish County is considering for the location of the Farm and Food Center on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Year-round indoor farmers market inches closer to reality near Mill Creek

The Snohomish County Farm and Food Center received $5 million in federal funding. The county hopes to begin building in 2026.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.