The district has secured nearly $12 million in grant funding aimed at purchasing electric school buses, marking a significant step towards modernizing its transportation fleet. Plans are underway to acquire the first seven buses, leveraging a collaborative purchasing program established by the Michigan School Business Officials (MSBO).
The MSBO has streamlined the procurement process by inviting bids from various vendors, allowing member school districts to access a compiled price list for electric buses. This initiative not only ensures competitive pricing but also simplifies the purchasing process for districts like ours.
In partnership with Dean Transportation, the district has submitted an application for the Clean Bus Energy Grant Program, which necessitated the submission of vendor bids for the electric buses. The MSBO's program played a crucial role in generating these formal bids, facilitating a smoother transition to cleaner transportation options for students.
This initiative reflects a broader commitment to sustainability and innovation within the educational sector, as districts aim to reduce their carbon footprint while enhancing the quality of student transportation.