Every year, the Mid-Prairie School District purchases one or two new school buses. In order to get the process started on acquiring them for next year, the district will hold a public hearing regarding the specifications for the new buses. Superintendent Mark Schneider explains, “Because each bus costs around $90,000, we have to go through the competitive bid process. And in order to go through the competitive bid process, we have to create specifications. We have to allow the public to give input on those specifications. And based on whether there is any public input or not, then we can send those specifications out to bus companies, and they will submit their bids for new buses.” Schneider says they began using propane-powered buses two years ago, which have worked well for the district, so their specifications will likely be for two additional propane buses. The public hearing will be held at 8 p.m. on February 13th during the regular school board meeting, and the bid opening date will be February 20th.