BOE 4/28/2026

The Herricks Board of Education meeting held on April 28, 2026, included a detailed presentation on the district's zero emission vehicle initiative, a state-mandated transition to an electric school bus fleet. The district engaged Wendell, an architecture and engineering firm, to conduct a study funded 75% by NAERTA, outlining the infrastructure needs, costs, and timelines for converting 24 diesel buses to electric. The total estimated cost for the conversion is approximately $15.6 million, including $4.6 million for infrastructure upgrades and nearly $10 million for bus replacements, with state aid expected to offset about $9 million. The project is planned in three phases, with the first phase costing $1.8 million and involving installation of seven chargers and eight buses. The study confirmed sufficient utility capacity but highlighted the need for new transformers and a 12-18 month lead time for equipment procurement. The board also approved the tentative administrative budget for the 2026-2027 school year, totaling $28,633,610, and voted on various cooperative educational service agreements and donations. Public comments addressed facility use policies and staffing concerns, but no additional procurement actions were noted beyond the zero emission vehicle project and budget approvals.