Bismarck Public Schools Plans To Buy Airplane
According to the Bismarck Tribune, Bismarck Public Schools gives district administrators the go ahead to purchase a plane. They didn't have to seek school board approval, because the purchase is under the 50,000 public bid threshold under North Dakota State law. The Bismarck Public Schools still had the school board approve the purchase "because it maybe could be construed as a sensitive issue" according to Darrin Scheer. The Bismarck Public School has an aviation class that students can take at the career academy which is located on the Bismarck State College Campus. Bismarck Public Schools plans to purchase a 2 seater Cessna 150 with a single engine prop, the plane will cost between $15,000 and $30,000. Using a rental plane costs families about $10,850 a year and the school district about $6,650. With the school distract owning a plane it will cost the families about $5,350 a year and the Bismarck Public School District about $2,963 a year according to Scherr. That includes yearly costs, insurance, maintenance, hangar rental, and propeller overhauls, which has to occur every four years. The Cessna 150 is from the 1950's and was one of the most produced civilian aircrafts, they developed the plane for flight training and touring. This will be the first plane owned by a school district in North Dakota. This will be great for upcoming high school students to get this opportunity.