mechanics on staff will be cross-trained. I was encouraged by the thoughtfulness of the program, not just the buses and hardware.” Highland helped about 60 districts apply for the latest CSBP funding, which is allocated in grants and winners were announced last fall, as well as the next round of re- bates, with winners to be announced as soon as this month. Highland helped smaller districts pool their requests into unified applications, since the minimum number of buses requested under the grant is 25, and small districts don’t need that many. Bucella said the CSBP is an invaluable way for districts
to make the leap to electric. “Imagine, a school district can have a sense of ease that 100 percent of that savings is passed on,” he said. “It prices down their cost of electrifica- tion. It’s an opportunity to make that transition to electric usage affordable. When you look at Baltimore City, you can really see those benefits. The big takeaway was seeing the children come out and cut the ribbon” on the new fleet. He continued, “If you’ve ridden a diesel bus as a child,
you remember the fumes, the smell. As we’ve seen cases of asthma continue to rise, this is an investment in health and safety. It’s also a bit quieter, and the drivers enjoy driving these vehicles. As a society we need to embrace all of this.” ●
Have you been awarded
Clean School Bus Program funding? 79% No 10% 2022 rebate 7% 2023 competitive grant 4% Both (Out of 129 responses to an STN magazine reader survey.)
27% of transportation directors/supervisors said their organization applied for the 2024 EPA Clean School Bus Program rebate. (Out of 121 survey responses.)
Extended School Year Transportation
Utilizing alternative transportation for summer trips helps districts save costs without compromising student safety.
Learn More at
everdriven.com Transporting Students With
Disabilities & Special Needs Conference and Trade Show
November 7 – 12, 2024 Embassy Suites Frisco, Texas
Presented by
tsdconference.com 46 School Transportation News • APRIL 2024
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