Andrew McDaniel knows he has options if he ever faces certain car problems when strapped for cash.

Broken heater or air conditioner? He could delay repairs and instead withstand uncomfortable temperatures during his five-minute drive to West Noble School Corp., where he serves as the chief financial and operations officer.

But the school district doesn’t have the luxury of pinching pennies by operating buses in subpar condition if faced with similar maintenance or repair issues, McDaniel said. Districts are obligated by law to maintain those vehicles to high standards and pass annual inspections.

West Noble is among the northeast Indiana school systems that are delaying bus purchases – and hoping maintenance costs of older vehicles don’t outweigh the savings – as they adapt to revenue l

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