School bus contract goes to Muccio Transportation/By Martha Knight

The public meeting took 11 minutes Wednesday night, but that was enough for the Port Allegany School Board to award a transportation contract to Joseph Muccio Transportation LLC, of Tionesta.

Muccio’s was the lowest bid of several received by the school district in response to advertising.

Prior to the special meeting at 8 p.m. the board met in executive session to discuss unspecified “personnel and confidential transportation items.”

The public vote to award a contract with Muccio was 6 to 1, with board president Dave Mensch, vice president Denise Buchanan, Daniel Kysor, Gary A. Hardes, Rodney Howard and Ingrid Lapp in favor. Voting No was Sean Lathrop. Ron Caskey and Scott Moses were absent.

Barbara Culver, owner of Culver Bus Garage, said Thursday that Friday would be the last day of operations for her company and staff. Her headquarters is across Oak Street from the Port Allegany Junior-Senior High School. The bus garage facility and vehicles are for sale.

Culver said after work Friday she and the bus garage “family” will celebrate with a nice party, marking the end of 27 years that they have served the school district.