Inside the new S-OCS Transportation Center on Flatwoods Road

Community members, school officials, and local families gathered Sept. 19 to tour the new Spencer-Owen Community Schools (S-OCS) Transportation Center located at 1441 Flatwoods Road. The modern facility, designed to streamline operations and better serve the district's extensive bus fleet, opened its doors to the public to showcase its comprehensive upgrades and capabilities.

Reflecting on the history of the project and what ultimately led the district to this milestone, S-OCS Superintendent Andy Cline shared details regarding the initial vision behind the facility.

"Prior to my arrival in 2021, the Board of Trustees had been studying the placement and construction of a transportation center to take care of the needs of the school district," he said. "There are 16 corporation routes and 21 contractor routes that provide bus service for our students during their a.m./p.m. routes for a majority of the county on a daily basis. On top of that, there are several additional school buses that provide transportation for students throughout the day who are on shortened schedules based on their academic needs.”

The primary vision for a transportation facility, Cline noted, was to provide a space where all buses could be stored, serviced and maintained for the district, providing efficiency and room for growth.

“The previous building, which has been transitioned into the facility and maintenance building, did not provide the space to work on a fleet of school buses this size," he explained.

Selecting the right site for a project of this magnitude required careful consideration of county geography, existing infrastructure, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds. When asked why 1441 Flatwoods Rd. was chosen as the ideal location, Cline explained the practical advantages of the property.

"The property was/is owned by the school district, which provided immediate cost savings to the community and taxpayer base," he said. "The ground provided a suitable building site. Other school-owned property and private property that had been looked at earlier in 2021 did not meet suitable building conditions based on geo-tech studies received by the board. The Flatwoods Road location was reviewed in 2023 and provided a suitable building site. It also afforded us the opportunity to connect to existing water, sewer connections, and allowed us to extend existing fiber/Internet connectivity to the new site, again saving taxpayer dollars."

For years, S-OCS struggled with logistical hurdles caused by scattered parking and a lack of indoor workspace. To address these challenges and improve financial efficiency, Cline explained how the new facility eliminated past space constraints while unlocking new operational capabilities.

"The school district did not have an established location to house all buses in order to provide on-site mechanical service and inspections," he said. "We were parking buses in the middle school parking lots and up near the tennis courts at the high school and middle schools when they were not in use. The facility construction also has allowed the district to begin cutting costs by buying service materials in bulk. For example, air filters, oil filters and wiper blades. We had nowhere to store those materials and were purchasing them at retail versus wholesale (bulk) prices. Also, the Indiana State Police inspection process and mechanic/maintenance processes have been much easier to complete and provided in a timely and frequent manner."

Visitors touring the open house had the opportunity to examine the building's specialized interior layout, built to accommodate both heavy mechanical work and staff needs. Detailing the core features and amenities included in the construction, Cline noted the thoughtful use of space.

"The new facility provides two mechanic bays which are used throughout the year for various repairs and scheduled maintenance for the buses," he said. "There is also a wash bay to clean school buses, which has come in handy during our first winter in the building in particular. There are parking spots and heating tapes to take care of up to 50 full-size school buses with additional space for activity buses and parking for drivers and visitors in the front of the building. In addition, the interior of the building houses offices, a break room for drivers, restrooms, and a training room for updating drivers on new requirements. The perimeter fence provides a means to secure the buses when not in use throughout the school year, during holiday breaks and the summer recess as well.”

Utilization of space was also taken into consideration with the creation of additional storage space in the mezzanine above the offices, restrooms, and a breakroom for the drivers.

“The board and employees who would be using the space on a daily basis took the time to carefully plan out the design and use of space,” Cline explained. “We also created a dedicated room to house all the blueprints and working documents for the district as well. It had been found that those items were spread across buildings. The inclusion of the ‘blueprint’ room allows for those items to be stored in one place, and they become easily accessible for review."

Operating across Owen County presents unique geographical demands, spanning over 380 square miles and hundreds of miles of local roadways. Discussing how a centralized hub impacts daily routes and scheduling, Cline emphasized the strategic advantages of the location.

"The facility and its location has provided a reasonably centralized transportation hub given the roughly 387 square miles that make up the county and the 635 miles of roads that have to be maintained by the county which we travel on a daily basis throughout the school year," he said. "The facility provides a space that will be prepared to handle the potential growth of homes and opportunities for Owen County families and their students."

Safety compliance and vehicle upkeep are vital components of daily student transportation. To support these efforts, Cline detailed the new transportation center's dedicated maintenance and training provisions while highlighting a valuable partnership with state officials.

"All inspections, maintenance, training, and repairs are now primarily done at the new facility," he said. "It provides a single space for work to be done in a controlled climate. We also are now able to host training/education sessions for folks interested in obtaining their school bus (CDL) license. The Indiana Department of Education has been very appreciative of being able to provide training sessions for folks in this part of the state. Recently, they completed a training session with 17 possible drivers for the surrounding counties. This is a positive collaboration that will hopefully help to curtail the driver shortage that so many school districts are now facing, including us. We are still looking for two more drivers."

Effective communication between drivers, mechanics, and administration is essential for maintaining smooth daily operations. To support this, Cline explained how the new facility enhances administrative oversight and strengthens safety protocols.

"The construction/use of the facility provides a single point of communication and maintenance oversight for drivers to their director and mechanic staff," he said. "Materials can be left and reviewed there, whether it be paperwork or bus videos to review stop arm violations or student behavior. School buses are maintained and inspected on site as well, providing a quick turnaround on service and/or repairs."

Bringing a project of this scale from concept to completion involved coordinated financial planning and dedicated local leadership, Cline noted, while outlining the project's timeline, funding, and key partners.

"Total costs for the facility were 4.3 million dollars, funded using lease bonds in conjunction with the improvements completed at Owen Valley Middle School and improvements at Spencer Elementary School," Cline explained. "The staff took occupancy of the transportation building during the 2025-2026 school year. Weather delayed earlier completion and occupancy of the building and campus."

Cline also acknowledged the professional teams responsible for the physical execution of the building.

"The Board of Trustees and school team worked with The Stenftenagel Group to oversee the project," he said. "In addition, Three i Design from Evansville, IN provided architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, planning, and design as the lowest, most responsible bidder."

Looking ahead, school leaders view the completion of the transportation center as a cornerstone for future community development and educational stability. Summarizing the long-term impact of the facility, Cline shared his outlook for the corporation.

"The construction, opening and utilization of the new facility provides a long-range and forward-thinking opportunity to house and provide school bus services for Owen County families well into the future," he said. "As contractors fade away and are no longer able to be replaced, the school system will have the facility and infrastructure in place to take on the full responsibility of buses and their storage and maintenance in order to provide a safe ride to and from school for our students on a daily basis."

As a lasting marker for future generations, a time capsule was integrated directly into the structure during construction.

"Mark July 1, 2050 on your calendar," Cline added. "As part of construction, a time capsule has been created and placed in part of the block walls. That capsule is scheduled to be opened in 25 years."