This is Part 3 in a series about the rollout of electric school buses across the county. Read Part 1, about a school district in Michigan, here, and Part 2, about a school district in Montana, here.
Clarkdale, Arizona, has been working hard to fix environmental damage from its past as a copper mining town over 100 years ago. Despite large smelter piles still occupying space near the town’s running river—a local rarity—there’s now an “astute attention to the environment” among residents, says Matt Schumacher, Superintendent at Clarkdale-Jerome School District #3. The latest example of Clarkdale’s environmental reverence comes in the form of a shiny yellow electric school bus, which rolled out this fall.
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A realized dream for an electric school bus
For years, even before he landed as superintendent at the small one-school district, Matt dreamed of bringing electric school buses to the area. But the cutting-edge technology makes the buses twice as expensive as diesel ones, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. So when he came to Clarkdale-Jerome, he set a goal to secure funding for one.
In 2023, Matt got word of EPA’s Clean School Bus Program and quickly reached out to Canyon State Bus Sales, a local bus dealership. They had a grant writer already on hand to support EPA applications. Before applying, the district considered if they had enough room for an electric school bus and its new charging station. Check and check!
So the school applied in fall 2023, was awarded $400,000 in grant money, and the bus made its debut on the local roads in October 2024. The district is proud that theirs is the first electric school bus in the area of Verde Valley, which is a two hours’ drive from the city of Phoenix and a half hour from the mountainous peaks of Sedona.
Cleaner air for asthmatic Arizonans
The Clarkdale-Jerome School District serves diverse communities at higher risk of poor air quality—qualities that make it a priority district for funding from the Clean School Bus Program. Air pollution in the area, including wildfire smoke, has caused asthma for some residents, and its impacts are multiplied for underserved communities.
In the summer of 2022, Hazel Chandler, a Field Organizer for Moms Clean Air Force in Arizona, says she coughed so much due to intense air pollution that she fractured her spine. She remembers seeing kids having bad asthma attacks around diesel-powered buses before electric school buses became more popular in Arizona. She even recalls kids at risk had to have their inhalers in tow to ride the bus safely.
Moms Clean Air Force has 25,000 members across Arizona. Daily, 300,000 children ride 7,000 school buses in the state. Districts across Arizona have purchased over 200 electric school buses, and the vast majority were bought with federal funds awarded since 2022. Hazel says the buses are extremely valued among families and students.
A student of Clarkdale-Jerome, Jalexa Villegas, 13, favors the new bus for a bunch of reasons: “I like how it’s more environmentally friendly and soothing, which makes the bus ride more enjoyable. Generally, it’s been a great upgrade,” Jalexa says.
A smoother purchasing experience—with added benefits
Historically, replacing buses in the Clarkdale-Jerome fleet was a bit of a hamster wheel experience. When the school needed a new bus, it would slowly save $50,000 to $60,000 to buy one—and then immediately start saving for the next replacement.
In comparison, their new electric school bus is not only free and has an eight-year warranty, but also offers extra financial support to the school. Securing an electric school bus grant has opened up thousands of capital dollars that the school can pool to support safety infrastructure, classroom upgrades, or curriculum. In Arizona, all these funds come from the same pot.
Matt, the superintendent, reports that one free bus meant that his school could consider upgrading campus facilities built in the 1980s.
He feels lucky that he found and pursued the grant. “My job is to think about the future, not only from an education standpoint, but from a health standpoint—which goes to everything, from what we serve in the cafeteria to what we’re doing for the environment and how we can model that for the kids,” he says.
The kids are taking notice. Student Quentin Anderson, 14, says, “It’s definitely nice how quiet the electric bus is compared to the diesel. It seems to handle better and rattles less, which makes it more comfortable to rest my head on the window after a long day at school.” Another student, Layla Abrigo, 10, shares, “I like the smooth ride and the blue bumper looks cool. I also enjoy new and spacious seats.”
Clarkdale-Jerome’s electric school bus may also inspire others to pursue their own grants. Matt says that other superintendents in his network expressed “lots of joy, and maybe a little jealousy,” when they heard his district’s news.
Once summer comes, another wave of appreciation will grow thanks to the electric school bus’ superior air conditioning system. Arizona is home to three of 25 of America’s fastest-warming cities; 54 days in 2023 reached temperatures above 110 degrees. Parents often complain about how hot diesel buses get in the summer. Children are uniquely at risk of heat-related illness. Extreme heat concerns mean that the district will use this bus for their longer routes once the temperature soars, Matt says.
Hoping to build a bigger electric school bus fleet
Matt is already considering applying for another rebate—if it remains possible with the incoming federal administration in 2025. He hopes it will be and believes strongly that the many benefits of electric school buses, from cost savings to zero tailpipe emissions and less air pollution, are of interest to people even with the most opposing viewpoints. Some people may just need more information, and he’s happy to share his knowledge and his experience with all.
“If you appreciate the environment, whether you’re a hunter or whether you’re a hiker, you’ll appreciate that we’re doing good things for the environment,” he says. “Or maybe you’ll appreciate the ability to sleep in the morning and not hear the rumble of the bus!”
Learn more about how your school can benefit from the Clean School Bus Program.
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