UPDATE: Bourbonnais schools back in session; buses repaired

BOURBONNAIS – Bourbonnais Elementary students were back in class Friday after the theft of catalytic converters from 21 school buses forced a district-wide closure Thursday.

Borrowing buses from nearby districts, District 53 was able to secure transportation to bring students to school on Friday morning.

The district also worked with its suppliers and mechanics so its own buses could be back up and running for Friday afternoon routes.

“We are happy to report that this afternoon we’ll be running all of our own buses,” Superintendent Adam Ehrman said Friday. “By 2 p.m. this afternoon, we’ll have all our own buses operating as normal, ready to go.”

He said that getting replacement catalytic converters located, secured, shipped and immediately installed was a team effort that amounted to a “logistical Mount Everest.”

“What we thought was going to be a weeklong issue has now been resolved the next day,” Ehrman said.

He said he couldn’t offer enough thanks to the districts that helped by lending the buses.

The districts responded to Bourbonnais’ request immediately, with some even reaching out to offer assistance before calls were placed.

“Ultimately, being able to build on those partner relationships was huge for us,” Ehrman said. “It makes you really appreciative of the community environment, and the greater community beyond just Bourbonnais.”

District 53 received support from the following school districts and companies:

• Peotone (four buses)
• Bradley Elementary (two buses and one van)
• St. George (one bus)
• Cardinal Bus Line (one bus)
• Manteno (one bus)
• Kankakee Dist. 111 (eight buses)
• Homer Glen (two buses)
• Crocker Coach (one bus)

District 53 plans to return the borrowed buses after filling their tanks with fuel, Ehrman said. Small tokens of appreciation will also be sent to their transportation departments.

“Their quick action and generosity made it possible for us to have school as planned today, and it’s a true reflection of the strength and partnership within our educational community,” he said. “We are grateful beyond words.”

Bourbonnais Interim Police Chief Dave Anderson said Friday that police were still reviewing security surveillance footage from the incident, which occurred at the district’s bus maintenance facility along Career Center Road near Liberty Intermediate School.

Investigators are looking at any possibility of local people or someone from out of the area for suspects, he said.

“We have heard of thefts like this over the last several years,” Anderson said. “A couple years ago, some other buses in the area got hit. They were just random, like one or two, but to this scale [this hasn’t happened before], at least not in our area.”

Anderson said it appeared entry to the site was gained by digging under the fence and cutting the fence.

Scrapyard operators have been made aware of this situation, as thieves often attempt to redeem the value of copper from catalytic converters.

District 53’s fleet has 24 full 77-passenger buses and other vehicles and transports more than 1,900 students each day, meaning about 82% of its student population relies on bus transportation.

“I think it’s kind of a sobering moment for all districts as they start thinking about – what happens if it’s them?” Ehrman said. “I think we’re probably going to have a lot of strategic conversations.”

In February, the Troy School District in Joliet had the catalytic converters of 30 school buses taken, according to media reports.