The Clarke County School District board split and partially approved a purchase of 11 Bluebird school buses after debating electrification, infrastructure needs and the replacement schedule for specialized vehicles. The board approved nine 48-passenger wheelchair-capable buses (eight propane and one gas) and voted 6–1 to table the purchase of two 72-passenger propane buses so staff can pursue alternative options and longer-term fleet planning.

Why it matters: Board members and staff said a large share of the district’s urgent replacement needs are for wheelchair-accessible buses for special-education routes, vehicles for which viable electric options are limited. At the same time members repeatedly pressed staff on how to avoid locking the district into a propane fleet for another 10–12 years without a plan to grow EV infrastructure.

What staff said: Transportation and sustainability staff explained current constraints on electrification: the district’s existing EV chargers and electrical transformers cannot support a larger electric-bus fleet without upgrades, and some wheelchair-accessible electric buses identified by manufacturers did not meet the district’s shop requirements. The sustainability coordinator described steps the district could take—working with Georgia Power to increase transformer capacity and gathering year-long performance data from the two existing electric buses to inform future purchases.

Board debate and motion: Several board members urged postponing the entire purchase until a five-year transportation plan and infrastructure assessment were completed; others warned that some special-needs buses are already past replacement age. The board agreed to divide the motion: approve the nine wheelchair-capable buses now to replace aging special-needs vehicles and table the two remaining 72-passenger propane buses so staff can return in January with alternatives and a plan.

Votes and follow-up: The procedural motion to divide the purchase passed 6–1; the motion to approve the nine wheelchair-capable buses passed and the motion to table the two 72-passenger propane buses passed 6–1. Board members asked staff to produce a five-year transportation plan and to investigate infrastructure upgrades (charging, transformer capacity) and other alternative solutions prior to the January meeting.

Next steps: District staff were asked to work with the sustainability coordinator and interested board members to research alternatives to propane for the two remaining buses, to develop a five-year replacement and infrastructure plan and to return with recommendations at the January work session.