Facilities staff provided an operations update covering transportation hiring, alternative‑fuel buses and nutrition services outreach.

Electric bus pilot and charging: staff said Wake County Schools will participate in a state pilot for an electric bus administered with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). According to staff, DPI will cover the costs of the bus and charging infrastructure where the district does not already have compatible charging equipment.

Propane buses and driver counts: staff reported the district currently has propane buses operating (10 in service), expects five more in the coming weeks and has ordered 10 additional units for next year through a state program. Committee members asked about driver recruitment; staff said the district is "hovering around" roughly 660 bus drivers, an increase from the prior year.

Special education transportation and vendor negotiations: staff said they have been in discussions with several firms to provide special education (spec‑ed) transportation. The vendors’ operating models differed from the district’s requirements and staff are working with attorneys on contract language; no contract award was announced.

Energy Savers pilot and sustainability staffing: staff described a soft launch of an "Energy Savers" program focused initially on STEM schools to engage staff and students in energy conservation and awareness; staff said broader rollout details will come later. The district also confirmed a new sustainability coordinator, Laurel Wood, will begin work on November 3.

Child Nutrition Services press conference: staff reported a press conference held at Oak Grove Elementary that brought attention to proposed budget cuts that could affect Farm to School programs and the district's summer benefit program (referred to in the meeting as Sunbucks). Staff said USDA representatives participated, and a state senator and district leadership attended to discuss potential impacts to SNAP and related programs.

Speakers named or quoted: operations staff (name not specified), Laurel Wood (new sustainability coordinator), Melissa (events coordination), Chair, and multiple board members who asked follow‑up questions.

What was not decided: no procurement awards or binding decisions were made about the electric bus beyond pilot participation; the spec‑ed transportation vendor negotiations were ongoing.