Several students and parents told the Farmington Public Schools board on Sept. 9 that the district’s transportation decisions have left cheerleaders and some students without safe, equitable travel to away events. Later in the meeting the board approved the purchase of three buses.

Maríah Bustos, a varsity cheerleader, said the team had been granted buses in a prior year when proper forms were filed but that this season they were told the week of a game that buses would not be provided. “I looked at my odometer, and it went up 90 miles just from driving to the game and coming back as a teenage driver. I don't think that that is safe,” Bustos said.

Student Sydney Preston said she feared for teammates’ safety after passing a recent fatal crash and urged that the team be allowed to travel together. “If buses would have been with us, we could all be together as a team and it would just have been safer,” she said.

Several speakers noted that nearby districts — Northville, Clarenceville, Livonia and Stevenson were named — provide buses for cheer squads and that unequal transportation sends a message of lower status to student groups that support school events.

Later under action items the board voted to approve the purchase of three buses from Hoagstra Transportation Incorporated. The purchase motion was approved by roll call: Miss Smith, Mister Recinto, Miss Heinrich, Mister Walker, Mister Hull and Vice President Walker all voted yes; the motion passed unanimously.

Trustees also discussed an electric‑bus grant opportunity that some neighboring districts accepted over the summer. Trustee Smith said the district was offered a fleet grant that could have covered a group of 14 electric buses, that the district could have accepted fewer than the full fleet, and that an energy provider (DTE) had offered to cover remaining costs for participating districts. Smith urged the board and staff to continue pursuing electric buses for special‑needs students with sensory or respiratory issues and for future fleet replacements.

Why it matters: Student safety and equitable access to extracurricular activities were the central concerns raised; the board’s bus purchase answers an immediate operational need while trustees signaled ongoing interest in electric buses and grants for future purchases.

What was decided: The board approved the three‑bus purchase; the meeting record shows unanimous roll‑call approval. Board members asked staff and the finance/facilities committee to continue evaluating electrification and grant opportunities for future purchases.

Ending: Students who testified asked the board to consider team and club transportation policies so that groups supporting school events travel together when possible.