Platteville Public Schools students will ride a different school bus company’s buses next school year.

The Platteville School Board approved a three-year contract with Warco Transportation of Bloomington Monday night.

Warco replaces Stratton Buses of Cuba City, which had the school bus contract after Faherty, Inc. exited the school bus business in 2008.

Warco and Stratton were the only two companies of the six invited to place bids. The School Board’s Finance and Personnel Committee interviewed each bidder, described by board member Josh Grabandt as 45-minute presentations and “a pretty robust two-hour conversation.”

Warco got the contract despite having a $304 higher bid than Stratton.

PPS superintendent Connie Valenza said the committee discussion involved Warco references and “what we know from our experience with Stratton Buses, and all the considerations came into making the decision.”

Warco provides school bus service for the Iowa–Grant, Potosi and River Ridge school districts. Stratton provides transportation for the Cuba City, Southwestern and Seneca school districts.

The school district has 15 school bus routes.