Dallas ISD will be getting 25 new electric school buses as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus program, Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde announced Tuesday. The district, one of 13 in Texas selected for the EPA program, will receive $7.6 to fund the buses and build the necessary infrastructure.
The Clean School Bus Program reduces greenhouse gas emissions, saves money for school districts and produces cleaner air, ultimately benefiting students across the country.
“I can’t wait to see the new buses rolling down our streets, picking up our students with zero emissions, making our air cleaner and more breathable for generations to come,” Elizalde said.
The EPA selected 389 applications totaling $913 million to support the purchase of 2,463 buses. Of those applications, 99% came from school districts serving low-income, rural, and/or tribal students.
In 2020, the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees unanimously passed the district’s Environment and Climate Resolution, which established a number of goals for the district to increase its environmentally friendly practices. From using 100% compostable plates and trash bags by 2027 and ensuring schools use renewable energy sources, to piloting zero-emissions school buses in our fleet, we are ensuring that Dallas ISD leaves a smaller environmental footprint.
“It’s important that while we prepare our students academically for the future, we also make sure that future is safe and thriving for them and their families,” Elizalde said.
