Baldwin-Whitehall approves purchase of two electric buses amid driver, infrastructure questions

The Baldwin-Whitehall School District board approved a consent package that includes authorizing the purchase of two Bluebird electric school buses priced at $437,990 each and related infrastructure upgrades.

District business presenter Mark Cherpek said the buses come from the electric bus grant the district received but “the grant will not cover all that.” He told the board the district will have to contribute additional funds “mainly due to additional tariffs on the steel coming into The United States.”

The buses are specified as 84-passenger vehicles. Cherpek said Bluebird does not offer a 72-passenger model, and the longer buses will not fit in the district mechanic bay: “We won't fit the mechanic's bay. They will need to be kept outside.” He also said electrical service and two charging stations already were installed at the bus garage, with room for two additional chargers if more vehicles arrive.

Board members and staff discussed timing and grant conditions. Dr. Lutz, the superintendent, said the district must have the vehicles in its shop by February 2026 and warned of the grant’s hard deadlines: “We have to have the vehicles in our shop by the February '26.” Cherpek added the district must place the order and pay up front and that grant reimbursements would follow when the money is allocated: “We have to pay the money as soon as we order it... whenever the grant... we get it, then the grant money comes back to us.”

Board members asked about the cost increase. A board member noted the district originally expected no local cost and asked about the $40,000-per-bus shortfall; Cherpek confirmed the grant amount is fixed and the tariff-driven price change is the cause. The district also noted a possible obligation to reimburse Duquesne Light for the new electric service if the purchase does not go forward.

Transportation was discussed more broadly. Cherpek outlined other fleet and operations purchases approved or proposed: a routing-software upgrade from Tyler Technologies (about $29,000) and 10 tablets at $315 each to provide turn-by-turn directions for substitute drivers; purchase of a 2019 Ford F-350 maintenance vehicle (noted as bright red); and reallocation of grant funds and vendor contributions that covered some electrical and charging work. Cherpek said Highland Fleet has paid for charging stations and Duquesne Light installed new service.

Board members and administrators also spent substantial time on staffing and operations. Dr. Lutz and Cherpek said the district faces a shortage of bus drivers and is negotiating with multiple carriers, including First Student, to cover routes. Cherpek said the district is exploring a mix of carrier contracts and use of vans and other fleet vehicles to maintain service. He noted parent carpools and volunteer drivers remain options for extracurricular travel, but reminded the board that district involvement in paying or organizing those rides is limited because of liability concerns.

Separately, the board discussed security screening equipment for Baldwin High School and Baldwin Middle School that the administration proposed to fund with a Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) grant if the state budget allocation arrives. Cherpek described the systems as high-flow screening units used at large public venues and said they are portable and tunable to reduce false flags from items such as eyeglasses or Chromebooks.

Why it matters: The purchases and operational changes affect the district's budget, daily routing and the reliability of student transportation as the new school year begins. The combination of a fixed grant, rising vendor prices and driver shortages means the district must decide whether to commit local funds now to secure grant money and meet delivery timelines.

What’s next: Consent items that included the bus purchases were approved as part of nonpersonnel consent items; administrators said they would place the order promptly to meet delivery windows and the district will seek grant reimbursement when state funds become available.