Osborn district outlines EV bus rollout, ridership and limits on out-of-district service

Sam Garcia, the district transportation presenter, told the Osborn Elementary District governing board that the district’s fleet now includes nine electric buses, with five currently running routes and four "just sitting in the bay" because charging infrastructure is incomplete. "We currently have five EV buses in route and nine total; four are just sitting in the bay," Garcia said.

Garcia and transportation staff described fleet and staffing: two diesel buses, six vans, and a transportation staffing mix that includes drivers, van drivers, bus aides and one mechanic. The district’s routing is zone‑based and aims to keep students on buses roughly 35–45 minutes, staff said. The district has begun implementing BusRite, a routing and parent‑notification app that will provide real‑time bus locations and one‑way monitoring; staff said BusRite will fully manage routes beginning in the 2026–27 school year.

Board members pressed staff on out‑of‑district stops and eligibility. Transportation staff said the district can set bus stops for students who enroll through open enrollment but added that "there is 0 obligation" to provide transport for open‑enrollment students; families choosing open enrollment generally must provide their own transportation unless the district agrees to include a stop. Staff confirmed state rules make students beyond one mile eligible for bus service for K–8, and noted McKinney‑Vento continuity routes transport students experiencing homelessness even when those routes cross district lines. Staff characterized McKinney‑Vento service as an unfunded mandate shared between districts.

On ridership, staff reported a weekly one‑way count of 2,151 for general‑education routes; board members and staff discussed converting that to a daily average (divide by five) and noted afternoon ridership is typically higher than mornings. Transportation staff said McKinney‑Vento routes today carry about 96 riders and that longer distance routes may be contracted out when necessary.

Board members also asked about charger installation and the timeline to bring the remaining EV buses online. Staff said a recent transformer installation is complete and the district is waiting on APS to provide final charging power; once charging capacity is in place, the remaining electric buses will enter service.

On staffing, the district reported two open bus‑driver positions and that 8‑passenger vans are operating near capacity. The district described retention measures, including 12‑month work opportunities and using summer positions to keep staff engaged.

The presentation and subsequent Q&A highlighted trade‑offs the district faces as it expands electric vehicles while managing infrastructure, staffing and the operational rules that determine which families are served by district transportation.