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DPSCD recommends returning federal and state electric-bus grants, citing cost and operational risk
Summary
Superintendent recommended returning two electric-school-bus grants after district analysis found it would need roughly $2.2 million up front and take on unfamiliar infrastructure and operational risks to implement. The board discussed trade-offs and deadlines but recorded no formal vote on returning funds during the meeting.
The Detroit Public Schools Community District superintendent recommended returning two recent grants for electric school buses after staff analysis found the district would need to absorb substantial additional costs and operational risks to implement them.
The superintendent told the board the federal award — described in the presentation as roughly $5.9 million for 15 buses and chargers — and a state award of about $4 million for 10 buses cover roughly 80–90% of vehicle and charging-station purchase costs but do not cover maintenance, operations or the district’s lack of EV infrastructure. “The district’s recommendation is to basically return the the federal and the state grant, so we don't have to absorb the 2.2 and additional risk moving forward,” the superintendent said.
Why it matters: the grants would replace diesel buses with electric…
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