District Unveils First of Nation’s Largest Fleet of Hybrid School Buses
Second-graders sing Earth Day-Friendly version of “Wheels on the Bus”
The Fort Worth ISD unveiled what will be the largest fleet of hybrid school buses in the United States today at a special event at Versia Williams Elementary School.
“This is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and we are thrilled that on this day we are sharing some very good news about some very special school buses,” said Superintendent Melody Johnson.
The first two of 25 new diesel hybrid electric school buses ordered by the District have arrived and are ready for service. The remainder of the fleet will be rolling into the bus yard over the next several months. One of the buses was parked behind the lectern where Dr. Johnson spoke and was adorned with a banner that read GO GREEN, SAVE GREEN.
“These hybrid buses also take our ‘Go Green, Save Green’ campaign to a new level,” continued Dr. Johnson. “As a District, we are committed to energy efficiency, conservation, and getting the top dollar return for every penny of our investment. We’re also setting an example in our North Texas community and providing an opportunity for our students to learn more about energy-saving technology.”
Superintendent Johnson was joined by Board of Education trustee, Dr. T.A. Sims, Chief of District Operations Cecelia Speer, State Senator Wendy Davis, District transportation executives, representatives from the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the bus and hybrid drive manufacturers.
All were serenaded by a group of second-graders who performed a special rendition of “The Wheels on the Bus.” The Earth Day lyrics were written by special education teacher Misty Collier.
The ENGINE on the bus
Goes GREEN GREEN GREEN, green green green, GREEN GREEN GREEN
The ENGINE on the bus
Goes GREEN GREEN GREEN
All through the town
The WHEELS on the bus
Go ROUND AND ROUND ROUND AND ROUND ROUND AND ROUND
The WHEELS on the bus go ROUND AND ROUND
All through the town
The DRIVER on the bus
IS SAVING GAS, SAVING GAS, SAVING GAS,
The DRIVER on the bus iS SAVING GAS,
All through the town
The KIDS on the bus
SAY “WE GO GREEN!” “WE GO GREEN!” “WE GO GREEN!”
The KIDS on the bus SAY “WE GO GREEN!”
All through the town
The ENGINE on the bus
Goes GREEN GREEN GREEN, green green green, GREEN GREEN GREEN
T he ENGINE on the bus goes GREEN GREEN GREEN
All through the town
Each new bus costs $146,000. FWISD, using bond funds approved by voters in 2007, is paying the cost of a non-hybrid bus ($82,000) while the U.S. Department of Energy is paying the difference of $64,000 on each new bus.
The federal funds are part of a $13.2 million grant being administered by the North Central Texas Council of Governments. The grant money will help the region fund 382 fuel-efficient vehicles and 11 refueling stations in the NTCOG area.
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