The Batesville School District has decided to decline a $365,000 federal grant intended for purchasing a new electric-powered school bus.
In a statement released Thursday afternoon, BSD Superintendent Dr. Ken James said that while the district was honored to have been considered for the opportunity, the associated costs of operating and maintaining an electric bus and charging station are “substantial.”
James noted that the decision to turn down the grant was not made lightly.
“Given the array of other essential projects and priorities currently underway within our district, we believe it is in our best interest to allocate our resources toward those areas that will have the most immediate and significant impact on our students and faculty,” the superintendent said.
Scroll down to read the full statement.
Batesville was one of four school districts in the state to receive the funding. A total of about $11 million was allocated to Arkansas for purchasing clean-energy school buses as part of the Biden administration’s effort to replace diesel-powered ones.
The administration’s initiative, part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, will provide about 530 school districts in 47 states and the District of Columbia with funds to help buy more than 3,400 clean buses.
According to the administration, 92% of the clean school buses purchased will be electric.
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