Judge rejects suit challenging school bus contract
ANCHORAGE - An Anchorage Superior Court judge has rejected a lawsuit challenging the award of the Anchorage School District's bus contract.
Judge Peter Michalski's ruling Wednesday denied all arguments from Laidlaw, the company that provided the district with about two-thirds of its buses for nearly 20 years. Last year the school board awarded a five-year contract to First Student.
Tom Hyatt, Alaska district manager for Laidlaw, said his company was not surprised by Michalski's ruling and plans to appeal. Laidlaw runs buses for 12 other Alaska school districts and is talking with Auke Bay Garage Bus Line of Juneau to take over the local school bus contract.
Michalski said First Student fairly won the contract and stuck to bidding procedures. He also said the court would not second-guess the school board's decision.