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Clean School Bus EPA award stalled after vendor partnership change; district left without awarded buses
Summary
The district had been identified as a high‑priority site in an $8.7M EPA Round 3 Clean School Bus award routed through a vendor, but Durham School Services and Highland Electric Fleet ended their partnership. Administration said Durham may pursue its own round‑4 application but warned the district is 'high and dry' for Round 3.
The district’s effort to secure electric school buses under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus program faltered after a contracting partner and the transportation vendor ended their relationship.
Administration reported Dec. 3 that Highland Electric Fleet had submitted an application for EPA Round 3 funding that listed the School District of Beloit as a high‑priority partner; Highland was awarded approximately $8.7 million for buses. Durham School Services — the district’s contracted transportation operator — subsequently informed district staff that it had severed its relationship with Highland, leaving the district without the planned implementation partner.
Bob Chady described the challenge as primarily a vendor‑partnership issue and emphasized his disappointment. He said Durham leases its terminal site and that the proposed charging infrastructure raised site constraints, including a floodplain elevation issue at the terminal. Chady also said Durham indicated it plans to pursue its own electric‑fleet program; Round 4 of the EPA program is open at the federal level, but administration cautioned that timing and partnership capacity are uncertain.
No formal board action followed; administration said it will seek written confirmation from Durham about the change and will continue exploring funding and partnership options for future EPA rounds but cautioned that the award that appeared to be in hand was no longer assured.
The board and administration discussed broader collaboration opportunities — for example, coordinating with municipal transit providers or nearby districts — but noted such arrangements require advance planning and careful review of vehicle and route requirements.
