District plans bus-electrification study and pilot; will seek waiver and state incentives for electric buses

District staff briefed the Audit Committee on long-term fleet-planning and a proposed bus-purchase proposition tied to a capital project.

Staff described a state waiver process that can provide a two-year deferral from the 2027 zero-emission bus requirement and said the district plans to apply for a waiver while continuing to prepare for electrification. The district intends to continue a pilot of two 70-passenger electric buses and pursue a state incentive program (described by staff as providing point-of-sale vouchers; transcript cited $220,500 per bus) and associated state-aid enhancements. Staff said the fleet-electrification study — expected by the end of the school year — will provide infrastructure recommendations, charger phasing, and a plan to integrate chargers at the bus garage and other school sites.

Staff recommended borrowing for buses on a five-year schedule and noted the district historically receives approximately 73% state aid on bus purchases; the district plans a mix of diesel and electric purchases in the near term (staff listed a proposed mix of 9 buses this year with several diesel units and two electric pilot buses).

Committee members asked how the district compares regionally and about referendum risk. Staff said the district is among the earlier adopters regionally but many districts remain cautious and voters have in some cases rejected propositions that included electric buses. Staff reiterated the waiver process is rolling and that the district's planned fleet study and NYSER-related incentives will inform timing and scope for any referendum.

The committee discussed facility-siting trade-offs (centralized storage versus decentralized parking) and the operational implications (daily driver checks and route deployment). Staff said the electrification plan will consider flexible charging to serve both district and visiting buses (for athletics) and will aim for plug-and-play flexibility as the charging market evolves.

Next steps: staff will finalize the electrification study, pursue required incentives and waivers as appropriate and fold bus planning into next-year capital project timelines, with further discussion to occur at upcoming board workshops.