Plum Borough SD pauses electric-school-bus purchase after staff cite high infrastructure and operational costs

Plum Borough School District staff recommended on Feb. 11 that the board not move forward with the district’s pending electric‑school‑bus procurement, and the board voted to accept that recommendation.

Staff and administrative leaders said the district completed needs assessment and external reviews and found 25 buses would have been candidates for replacement. However, running electrical service to the district bus garage was estimated at about $2.2 million, and staff identified additional risks related to battery life, maintenance and day‑to‑day charging windows. "Based on all these factors, we are recommending not to move forward with the electric buses at this time," a district administrator told the board.

Administrators described conversations with other districts and private bus operators that had mixed outcomes: some fleets required a dedicated staff member to manage charging and reported high percentages of electric buses in for maintenance. Staff also said changes in federal administration incentives introduced uncertainty about projected rebate calculations that initially made the proposal financially attractive on paper.

Chief Financial Officer Mister Manzer said the transaction carried too much risk—either a large upfront investment or substantial recurring payments under a potential lease—and recommended continuing to operate the district’s current diesel fleet. The board voted 5–0 to accept staff’s recommendation and directed administration to cancel the pending contract and report further alternatives to the board.

Administrators said they will keep pursuing funding opportunities and alternative strategies while ensuring fiscal stewardship of taxpayer resources.