District updates fleet: more propane buses, electric bus grant fell through

Miss Simmons, the district’s executive director of business operations, briefed trustees on the transportation department’s annual report and current fleet status.

She said the district purchased several propane buses and that an EPA grant for electric buses was pursued but the award ‘‘fell off’’ in the procurement process, so electric vehicles were not secured. The district has a mix of propane, gas and diesel buses; Miss Simmons reported 17 propane buses, seven gas buses (two currently out of service) and 15 diesel buses (six out of service). She told the board the district keeps older buses for spare parts and trade-ins when grant-funded replacements are available.

Miss Simmons said the district obtained a McKinney-Vento activity bus in 2024, but that three of the four McKinney-Vento buses are aging and only one is able to travel outside the district; she recommended budgeting for at least two utility buses in the next budget season to replace those nearing end-of-life.

Board members asked about maintenance responsibility and whether drivers and mechanics could support electric fleets; Miss Simmons said the mechanics handle most work in-house and that the district would pursue grant funding if opportunities reappear.

No formal vote was necessary; the presentation was accepted and trustees asked staff to continue pursuing grant opportunities for cleaner buses and to include replacement requests in next year’s budget planning.