Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board authorizes purchase of three electric school buses, says grants will cover cost
Summary
After a technical presentation and board questions about range, batteries, safety and infrastructure, the Madison board authorized acquisition of three electric buses using clean‑bus grant funds and approved related procurement items for charging infrastructure.
The Madison District Public Schools board voted to authorize the acquisition of three electric school buses after a presentation from James Murray of Hoostra Transportation about vehicle specifications, battery warranties and charging infrastructure.
Murray described the buses’ operating profile — up to about 150 miles on a full charge under temperate conditions, 246 kWh of batteries (two packs), and typical charge times of 3–4 hours on a 60 kW charger or 1–2 hours on a 100 kW charger. He said drivers who tested the buses praised the ride quality and that standard safety testing and third‑party battery validation are part of the manufacturer’s process.
During extended Q&A, trustees pressed staff on battery life, thermal‑event risk, winter range loss and emergency response plans. Trustee Christa McAlpine Taylor said she has met the police chief and intends to coordinate a briefing with the fire department if buses are delivered; the vendor said high‑voltage training for drivers and first responders is part of deployment planning.
Administration presented a five‑year total cost‑of‑ownership (TCO) comparison and said grant funding will substantially offset higher upfront costs. The selected vendor price for three buses was presented as $1,252,161; administration and a trustee clarified that a Michigan Department of Education grant manager indicated the award would cover the bus cost and infrastructure so the district would have no out‑of‑pocket expense on the buses and chargers.
The board approved a resolution authorizing the purchase not to exceed $1,252,161 and delegated execution of purchase documents to the superintendent and the director of business and finance. Trustees also approved related curriculum and capital projects earlier in the meeting that support summer programming and facilities work.
