After many starts and stop along the process, Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools have been provided a grant of $326,930 toward buying an electric-powered school bus.  The item has been preliminarily on the school board agenda several times but not ready at past meeting time.

Wednesday night, HSE Transportation Director Zach McKinney said this new electric bus will replace a diesel powered unit, which is at the end of its useful life.  The electric bus is to be delivered no later than December of 2022, but McKinney says the bus could be here earlier, possibly in time for the start of school in August, 2022.

Bus drivers will apply to drive the new bus and one will be selected to drive the  electric vehicle.  McKinney added that the electric bus has a much quieter engine, meaning bus drivers will be able to hear what goes inside the bus among the students much better compared to the diesel-powered buses.

The board approved the transaction unanimously.

In other school board news from Wednesday night:

–Final unanimous approval was given the the 2022 school district budget.

–Superintendent Yvonne Stokes told the board and the community the school district will sometime be revisiting the mask mandate, but her goal is “students in school.”  So far, Stokes says, “We are still in school.  That’s important.  We have not had to close the doors.”

–The board recognized the work of the Fishers High School Dance Marathon, which has raised $600,000 for Riley Children’s Hospital since 2008.