As part of the annual school budget vote and Board of Education election on May 19, district residents will consider the purchase of three 28-passenger gasoline buses and one wheelchair accessible gasoline bus. The cost of the buses is not to exceed $430,783 and the district will be reimbursed by the state for approximately 63% of the cost.
Why does the district need new buses every year?
The district has a bus replacement plan that typically replaces its buses after 7-10 years, when it is no longer cost effective to make the repairs needed to meet state inspection standards. Maintaining an aging school bus presents potential safety, maintenance and financial issues for the school district. The replacement plan helps maintain a safe and efficient bus fleet.
Why gasoline buses?
New York state regulations will soon prohibit the purchase of new gasoline and diesel buses after next year, except through one of two limited, single-year waivers granted by the New York State Education Department. The regulations also require schools to transition to a fully zero-emission fleet by 2035. In anticipation of this transition, the district participated in a comprehensive electric bus feasibility study last year, funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The findings of this study were clear: several of our routes cannot be effectively or reliably completed using electric buses given existing technological and operational constraints.
What are the obstacles to purchasing electric buses?
In short, the infrastructure required to support a full transition to electric buses—including charging stations, electrical capacity enhancements, and facility modifications—represents a significant financial undertaking for the district. We are proactively pursuing grant opportunities and external funding sources to help offset these expenses.
“Our goal is to position the district to meet future mandates responsibly, while minimizing the financial impact on our taxpayers,” Superintendent Bonnie Kane said. “While a full electric transition is not yet feasible, the district is committed to a thoughtful and strategic shift toward electric transportation as infrastructure and funding opportunities become more viable.”