Preston — School officials hope to have a financial analysis next week of three school bus transportation bids to determine whether the town should outsource bus service or continue to run its own bus fleet.

Town and school Finance Director John Spang presented a preliminary analysis of the three bids Monday to the Board of Education Transportation Subcommittee, ranking the companies on price per bus per day and for the amounts the companies would pay for the town's existing buses.

The subcommittee will meet at 5 p.m. next Monday to review the more detailed analysis.

Superintendent John Welch said more analysis will be needed before the board can determine whether outsourcing bus transportation would save money. Under the contract with the bus drivers' union, the board first must decide whether potential savings would warrant a school bus transportation feasibility study. If yes, then the union would have the opportunity to present an alternative proposal. If the board determines there would be no savings, Preston would continue to run its own bus fleet.

School officials hope to decide on the controversial bus service issue in time to place the costs in the 2016-17 school budget.

Parents and some school board members objected to the study, saying good relations with current drivers are as important as cost savings.

According to Spang's preliminary analysis, a bid by DATTCO ranked lowest at a cost of $351 per bus per day, but would pay less, $46,000, for the town's fleet of 15 buses. DATTCO also proposed a slower replacement of older buses.

Student Transportation of America would charge $354 per bus per day, but would pay the town $95,800 for its existing buses. The third firm, Durham School Services, would charge $387.65 per bus per day, but would pay $124,230 for the town's buses.

Subcommittee Chairman Charles Raymond asked that the school district's current cost per bus per day be included in the analysis to be presented next week.

This was the second time in several months that the school district sought bids for bus transportation. The board determined last winter that there was no significant cost savings with the two bids received.

The bid specifications differed this time, increasing the proposed contract from three to five years and allowing the companies to buy the town's buses.

Spang said another important criteria for parents who support local the local bus contract is the provision that the bidders give preference to current Preston drivers.

“For safety reasons, the best situation is to have the same driver on the same route,” Spang said Monday. “They are familiar with the traffic, the geography and the bus stops themselves. Bus contractors will want this too. As an added bonus, the relationship between the parents and drivers remains in place.”

c.bessette@theday.com

Twitter: @Bessettetheday