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Gadsden board approves contract for eight electric school buses after detailed review
Summary
After extensive questions about range limits, parts availability, costs and contract terms, the board approved 8 type C electric buses under a 12-year agreement (vote 4–1). Vendors said parts and warranty support are available, the provider will supply initial capital and utility interconnection costs are not billed to the district per the vendor.
The Gadsden County School Board voted 4–1 to accept the superintendent’s recommendation to acquire eight type C electric school buses under a financing and service agreement presented by Highland (vendor) and supported by Bluebird dealer Florida Transportation Systems.
Board members asked detailed questions about operational limits, warranty and costs. The contract language initially limited routes to 60 miles in any direction from premises (a round-trip framing the vendor said could be adjusted). Vendor representatives said the district may request planned excursions beyond the mileage limit, that mileage and route assignments can be adjusted year-to-year, and that the operator provides a route-readiness guarantee and maintenance assurances.
Key contract and budget clarifications in the meeting included:
- Eight electric buses to be added under the proposed agreement; the vendor said the financing structure covers upfront capital and expects a twelve-year term. (Vendor representative: Dominic Ricotta.) - The vendor stated the total first-year contract price was $136,000 for the scope described and said an item described as "$17,000 per bus" in discussion referred to unit breakdowns within that total; board members expressed confusion and asked for clearer math. (Speaker 15 and Board member discussion.) - Mechanics’ reimbursements were discussed; contract language referenced a $55 per hour reimbursement for district mechanics doing limited work (vendor said high-voltage work would go to dealers, not local mechanics). Vendor said parts distribution and 15-year parts support are part of Bluebird/DOE arrangements. - An interconnection-cost estimate of $55,000 appeared in the vendor’s packet but vendor clarified that this was an estimate from the utility and stated Highland would cover that cost rather than billing the district; the board asked the attorney to confirm clear contract language. - Contract terms include an annual mileage review, a possible excess-mileage mechanism and an option for the district to take ownership (with associated infrastructure responsibility) at termination; vendor described options to remove infrastructure if district declines to retain it at contract end.
Vendor Ross Rayner (Florida Transportation Systems) said Bluebird has regional parts support and an $80 million federal award to expand electric-bus production and parts availability; Bluebird personnel said they would prioritize parts availability and compensate for in-service downtime by providing spares.
Board members voiced a range of opinions. One member called the proposal a "no-lose situation" given the vendor's maintenance promises; another worried about reliability, parts availability, route-range constraints and whether electric buses would become obsolete. After debate, Board member Speaker 5 moved to accept the superintendent’s recommendation; Speaker 6 seconded. The motion carried 4–1.
Board direction included instructions for the attorney and staff to clarify contract language on interconnection costs, excess-mileage charges and termination responsibilities before final contract signatures.
