Colton Joint Unified outlines $15.8 million pathway to electric buses, cites decade of solar savings

Colton Joint Unified School District officials told the board on Jan. 22 that the district is moving to electrify its bus fleet and expand campus energy efficiency after a year of grant awards and retrofits.

Sustainability officer Jay Kim presented a rundown of projects and funding, saying the district has received a conditional set of grants and incentives “totaling up to $15,800,000 to fund up to 25 EV buses and 25 EV charging ports.” He said the district plans to “stack grants” so replacement of older buses proceeds as vouchers and grants align. Kim described the first project award — $5.8 million from the Zero‑Emission School Bus (SESB) and a similarly sized award from AQMD — and additional provisional awards including $1.4 million (Carl Moyer) and roughly $2.8 million via the HVIP voucher program.

Kim also outlined energy efficiency work: a CalSHAPE grant award covering $572,000 for thermostat upgrades and HVAC maintenance at 15 sites, plus a $91,000 reimbursement for air filter changes. The district secured up to $220,000 in incentives from the Inland Regional Energy Network (first check $88,000 received; a second payment of $132,000 expected in February) for lighting and equipment projects. Kim said the district replaced thousands of fluorescent fixtures with LEDs, participated in the SoCal Gas direct install program that provided 84 tankless water heaters, and has received workforce support from the California Conservation Corps for interior LED retrofits.

Officials credited the solar program for long‑term savings: the district has solar canopies at 26 sites that supply about 45% of its electricity demand, which Kim said is equivalent to producing enough electricity for roughly 1,525 homes annually. The district also generates about $82,000 a year selling renewable energy credits and has filed for alternative fuel credits with the IRS that staff expect could return about $243,000.

Superintendent Dr. Miranda praised the sustainability team and singled out Jay Kim’s efforts to identify savings and pursue grants. The district also announced a pilot installation of four EV chargers at Grand Terrace Elementary (project cost $45,000, fully grant‑funded) and introduced Jillian Dela Cruz, the district’s first energy fellow, who will lead Earth Week programming and support utility tracking and grant work. “I’m honored to serve my community,” Dela Cruz said after Kim introduced her role.

Board members asked for more details about a billing anomaly staff described as a $1,000,000 error that had been flagged and prevented from payment; Kim explained the ticketed vendor bill had an extra zero and was caught during review. Trustees pressed about the district’s white‑fleet (service trucks) electrification options and timelines tied to the state’s Advanced Clean Fleet provisions; staff said they are monitoring HVIP and other incentives and will phase replacements as vehicles retire.

No formal board action was taken on the EV grants at the Jan. 22 meeting; Kim said the items were presented for the board’s information and preparation for future procurement and implementation steps.