Jackson School Board Applies For Electric Bus Grant

The Jackson County Board of Education will apply for the system’s first electric bus through a new grant.

Director of Schools Jason Hardy said the application would essentially enter them into a lottery for the grant.

“We’re going to put our name in the hat and we may not even get picked,” Hardy said. “But if we don’t at least apply we know we won’t. So once we apply and we get lucky enough to get picked, then we can come back and discuss: is this what we want to do? Is it one electric bus? Is it two electric buses? And we can get into more details.”

Hardy said the grant would also pay for the installation of charging stations for the buses. He said electric buses could save the district money, especially with fuel costs.

“We know just the world in general is going that way,” Hardy said.

Hardy said the district would not be guaranteed to use electric buses even if they receive the grant.

“If we’re not exploring these other options, then I think that’s a loss for our school system,” Hardy said.

Putnam County received a grant last year and put electric buses into rotation this school year. Hardy said he plans to communicate with the schools in Warren County and Cookeville about the electric buses they already have in use.

“I know we’ll have more questions,” Hardy said. “I’ve got plenty of questions myself if we’re lucky enough to get it.”