SPECIAL REPORT
Salt Lake City School District in Utah realizes the benefits of transporting students with special needs via an electric school bus.
A Smoother, Quieter Ride for Students with Special Needs
Written by Taylor Ekbatani |
taylor@stnonline.com K
en Martinez watched interior video footage of a little girl on board a school bus covering her ears and appearing aggitated. She had been placed back on a diesel bus after the
electric bus she had been riding on went into the shop for scheduled service. And she was not happy about the new experience. Her parents relayed that the vibrations of the diesel bus were negatively impacting her ride. Martinez, the director of transportation for Salt Lake
City School District in Utah, explained electric school buses (ESB) are quieter and without the same vibrations common of a diesel engine, which could be furhter complicating the sensory challenges of some students. He noted that because the electric buses ride quietly and smoothly, they qualify even more as an extension of the classroom. Besides the obvious benefits of zero or low emissions
for impoved student and driver health, school districts have seen additional benefits to electric and propane school buses, especially for students with speical needs. Some of these perspectives were shared at the Trans-
18 School Transportation News • JANUARY 2024
porting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs Conference in November. A session presented by electric bus manufacturer GreenPower Motor Company provided districts an opportunity to share real-world experiences in deploying the Type A all-electric Nano Beast during a pilot project implemented in West Virginia. The Nano Beast was deployed for a six-week period
across the state. Representatives from Clay County and Wyoming County school districts spoke about their ex- periences during the session. “We deployed the Nano Beast all-electric school bus on our most diverse special needs route, as we really wanted to test it out as soon as we got it to see how it performed,” said Jared Fitzwater, the transportation director for Clay County School District during the session. He explained the benefits of the vehicle’s acceleration, adding that it is a smooth ride. “Our data showed that it reduced the dis- pruptions on the bus. The quiteness, the calming, those kids behaved better. It was amazing to see.” John Henry, the assistant superintendent for Wyo- ming County Schools agreed, citing a positive shift in
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