Two new electric buses were received by the Augusta Independent School District.
AUGUSTA— Augusta Independent Schools were recently the beneficiary of two brand new 2025 Blue Bird electric school buses.
AIS was selected to receive an EPA grant which was only to help cover the cost of the new buses. The grant covered 91 percent of the cost. The grant funds were only permitted to be used for the purchase of electric buses.
According to AIS Representatives, the remainder of the costs are being “recouped via a rebate program from the Inflation Reduction Act.”
“While electric buses are limited to how far they can travel between charges, they are a great solution for the district’s daily routes, which only travel a few miles daily in town,” said Chad Bryant, Transportation Director at Augusta Independent. “They could possibly be used for local extra-curricular activities traveling to Brooksville or Maysville, but we will still have two diesel buses for our longer trips.”
AIS representatives noted that the state offers additional transportation funding for the next 14 years for depreciation in addition to the upfront grant money.
“As a small district with a tight budget, we have typically relied on pre-owned buses, so this was a great opportunity for our district,” said Finance Director Tim Litteral. “With brand new buses, we anticipate having several years without maintenance issues on them, which will create another positive impact with our budget.”
According to Blue Bird Transportation Representative Mark Parsons, this grant benefits the district.
“With a small district and low mileage routes, the transportation of students to and from school will basically be at no cost,” stated Parsons.
AIS Representatives mentioned that a new bus parking lot was recently constructed on Bracken Street to prepare for the new buses.
Representatives further stated that the new lot was a great spot to set up the bus charging stations as it has close proximity to a “sufficient source of electricity.”
District officials felt that the best option was to relocate bus parking now as a new gymnasium and office complex is being built on Frankfort Street where the previous bus parking was located. This way relocation will not have to occur later.
AIS Superintendent Lisa McCane stated that she felt this was a “win-win situation” for the district.
“This gives our students top-of-the-line transportation to and from school each day, while the district will see long-term financial gains with increased transportation funding by having these two buses,” McCane expressed.
