Resident raises bus-yard security and electric-bus safety concerns; district says it is pausing electric purchases

A community member used the public-comment portion of the NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT's budget hearing to press officials on bus-yard security and the safety of electric buses. The resident described seeing buses left with doors open and said industry reports show electric-bus battery failures that can lead to destructive fires.

"They had one of their electric buses. The battery failed. Burned the battery bus right to the ground," the resident said, recounting incidents cited from other jurisdictions. The resident asked whether the district planned to buy lithium-ion electric buses and urged caution.

District staff acknowledged the security and operations concern and said they would speak to the transportation director about fencing and asset protection. On electric buses, officials reiterated the district is not buying electric buses at this time. "We just don't think the technology is ready yet," a district official said during the exchange and noted the district has applied for a waiver with New York State to defer the purchase timeline.

The exchange did not produce independent documentation of the fire incidents the resident described; district leaders said they are continuing to study the technology and will follow up internally on yard security. The district's broader transportation approach in the proposed budget emphasizes replacing aging vehicles on a roughly 10-year cycle, purchasing wheelchair-accessible buses and models intended for long field trips; officials estimated the local tax impact of the additional buses at about $15 on a $200,000 home.

District leaders did not commit to a public timeline for the fencing review or a written follow-up on the electric-bus study during the meeting.