Community members got an up-close look at a 2024 IC electric school bus provided by Leonard Bus Sales Inc. The demonstration included a tour inside and out of the bus and a question-and-answer session with Leonard Bus Sales representatives David Rindo and Kodie Shamrock.

Bemus Point Central School has been awarded $400,000 in funding through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Rebate Program to purchase two electric school buses. The award was received in May and will make other rebates and incentives available.

On Thursday, Sept. 5, a districtwide vote on a Bond Anticipation Note will be held to cover the $236,000 local share of the project. The note will be financed over 12 years with no additional taxes.

“I want to thank all of the community members who attended (Wednesday’s) electric bus visitation,” Bemus Point Superintendent Joseph Reyda said. “Your questions and concerns help us to better explain how these electric buses operate and how we are able to finance them. I also want to thank Dwayne Dustin, our Director of Transportation, and TJ Rearick, our Bus Mechanic, for being available to help answer questions.”

The Bemus Point Central School District recently hosted an electric bus demonstration at its bus garage. The district has been awarded $400,000 in funding through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Rebate Program to purchase two electric school buses. Submitted photos

Rindo and Shamrock from Leonard Bus Sales gave detailed explanations of how electric buses operate and answered various questions.

Bemus Point Central School will be required to replace all 20 of its diesel school buses by 2035. According to Reyda, the 2023 EPA rebate award allows the school district to replace those buses with no additional tax increases.

“I’m happy that people were able to get a close look at an electric bus,” Reyda said. “The children who attended were excited to get on the bus and sit in the seats. One comment from the event stood out to me. As the electric bus was pulling into the garage, one parent said, ‘It’s so quiet!’ It was surprising that a vehicle so large can run so quietly.”

Among those who toured the inside of the bus was 6-year-old Reino Hill, who made it a point to check out the seats toward the back of the brand-new vehicle. Hill’s father, Richard, has been a school bus driver in Bemus Point for several years.

“I can tell you it’s much quieter than the bus I’m driving right now,” Richard Hill said Wednesday. “These buses are really nice, and the kids seem to like them.”

In addition to the demonstration, community members learned how electric school buses are charged. In addition to purchasing two new electric buses, Bemus Point plans to install charging stations inside its bus garage, with National Grid covering 90% of the utility upgrade costs.

Dustin, the district’s transportation director, said Bemus Point has a good idea of where the buses will be stored and where the charging stations will be installed. He said his team has been learning more about the vehicles, including how they are maintained, through initial conversations with Leonard Bus Sales.

Reyda said Bemus Point will continue to provide information and updates to the community leading up to the community vote on Sept. 5.

For more information, visit bemusptcsd.org and click on the Electronic Bus Transition Plan tab

on the district’s homepage.

Following Wednesday’s event, Leonard Bus Sales visited Chautauqua Lake Central School where area first responders learned more about electric school buses.