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- As if we really needed any, here’s a bit more
bragginginformation about how the independent van drivers who had a monopoly for decades on transporting Akron City Schools students with special needs and those experiencing homelessness managed to win a new contract to continue as the district’s primary service provider even though their bid was the fifth-best one submitted in a new “competitive” process. If it were me, I would be embarrassed to tout any “win” where I actually came in fifth in a competitive bidding process—because it’s obvious the final vote was a foregone conclusion regardless of what was submitted and because I clearly deserved this contract less than four other bidders. No such compunction is expressed here. In fact, everyone who played a part in the “victory” seems proud of their “accomplishment”. I assume that the only reason all of the other companies who had better bids but still got no part of the work have remained silent (despite all the statements given—out loud and on the record—in this and other media coverage about the ridiculous process) is because they are silently counting their lucky stars that they don’t have to deal with the elected school board again for a while…no matter how much they may have wanted the gig before. I also assume that there will only be one “bidder” from here on. (Signal Akron, 6/13/25)
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