Agenda Item
b. Approval to Secure Charter Transportation Service for Georgia Aquarium Experiential Learning Experiences and Junior Achievement for Students in Grades K-12 (Not to exceed $690,000)
Summary: Presented by: Ms. Stacy E. Stepney, Chief Academic Officer, Division of Curriculum & Instruction
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education authorize the DeKalb County School District to secure transportation services from Samson Tours, Inc., Coast to Coast Tours, LLC, and R&W Motor Coach, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $690,000.
Why: This request is for Samson Tours, Inc. and Coast to Coast Tours, LLC to provide transportation to and from the Georgia Aquarium to allow students in grades K-12 to participate in instructor-led experiential learning experiences. Students will gain access to opportunities that explore careers in Marine Science. In addition, students will have the opportunity to accelerate their learning and bridge gaps in their knowledge as they engage in real world applications and experiences in science and other core content areas.
In addition, this request is for Coast-to-Coast Tours, LLC and R&W Motor Coach, Inc. to provide transportation to and from the World Congress Center to allow our sixth and seventh grade students to participate in Junior Achievement Biztown and Finance Park field trips.
Details: Samson Tours, Inc., Coast to Coast Tours, LLC, and R&W Motor Coach, Inc., are current approved carriers that can provide services until May 2026 based upon availability.
To accommodate K-12 students, Samson Tours, Inc. and Coast to Coast Tours, LLC will transport students to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia to participate in the Georgia Aquarium educational programs and opportunities. Service for a 48-56 passenger bus costs approximately between $749.00 - $1,599.00 per bus.
To accommodate all sixth and seventh grade students, Coast to Coast Tours LLC and R&W Motor Coach, Inc. will transport students to the World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia to participate in Biztown and Finance Park, a financial literacy simulation partnership with Junior Achievement. Service for a 56-passenger bus costs approximately $1,125.00 - $1,250.00. The total number of buses needed to transport all sixth and seventh grade students is 312 buses.
Financial impact: The total amount for transportation in an amount not exceed
$690,000. The charge codes are below:
100.2700.551900.00011.6600.9990.6010.035.0000
100.1000.530000.63311.7480.9990.8010.035.0000
Contact: Ms. Stacy E. Stepney, Chief Academic Officer, Division of Curriculum & Instruction, 678-676-0731,
Dr. Sean R. Tartt, Deputy Chief Academic Officer, Division of Curriculum & Instruction, 678-676-0731,
Dr. Rose Prejean-Harris, Assistant Superintendent 6-12, Division of Curriculum & Instruction, 678-676-0137,
Mrs. Janetta Greenwood, Director, Fernbank Science Center, Division of Curriculum & Instruction, 678-874-7119
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Attorney Approval Not Required
CHRONOLOGY OF THE AGENDA ITEM
Board Agenda Item Title: Approval to Secure Charter Transportation Service for
Georgia Aquarium Experiential Learning Experiences for Students in Grades K-12
(Not to exceed $300,000) and Junior Achievement Biz Town and Finance Park
(not to exceed $390,000 for a total not to exceed $690,000.
Background/Details
DeKalb County School District entered into an official partnership with the
Georgia Aquarium on July 14, 2025. The partnership requires consistent access
to student transportation for students to be able to fully participate in the various
learning opportunities during the 2025-2026 academic year. This request is to
provide ongoing transportation to and from the Georgia Aquarium to allow
students in grades K-12 to participate in instructor led experiential learning
experiences. Students will gain access to opportunities to explore careers in
Marine Science. In addition, students will have the opportunity to accelerate their
learning and bridge gaps in their knowledge as they engage in real world
applications and experiences in science and other core content areas.
DeKalb County School District and Junior Achievement have a long-standing
partnership that provides sixth and seventh grade students to participate in JA
Biztown and JA Finance Park respectively. As part of this engagement, the District
provides transportation to the event center located at the Georgia World Congress
Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The program includes classroom guidance activities
facilitated by the grade level social studies teachers and culminates with a learning
experience at the JA center.
Contract Term
Samson Tours, Inc and Coast to Coast Tours, LLC are current board approved
carriers that can provide services until May 2026 based upon availability. The
contract for Samson Tours, Inc and Coast to Coast Tours, LLC to support
transporting students to and from the Georgia Aquarium is from September 9,
2025 – June 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $300,000. Service for a 48-56
passenger bus costs approximately $749.00 - $1,599.00 per bus for an
approximate total of $300,000.
Coast to Coast Tour, LLC will also provide transportation services to students
attending the Junior Achievement program from September 23, 2025 to May 30,
2026. Service for a 55-passenger bus costs approximately $1,150.00 -
1,250.00. The total number of buses needed to transport all sixth and
seventh grade students is 312 buses for an approximate total of $390,
000.00.
Scope
Samson Tours, Inc., Coast to Coast Tours, LLC and R&W Motor Coach, Inc are
approved transportation carriers with the DeKalb County School District. To
accommodate K-12 students, Samson Tours, Inc and Coast to Coast Tours, LLC
will transport students to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia to participate
in the Georgia Aquarium educational programs and opportunities. Coast to Coast
and R&W Motor Coach, Inc will also provide transportation to students
participating in the Junior Achievement program.