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Sending fuel costs back to the classroom in rural PA

Sending fuel costs back to the classroom in rural PA

Good morning, neighbor!

From steel to solar, today our team at Resource Rural is sharing the story of the Steelton-Highspire School District. 

The school district is small. It serves just 1,350 kids. It only has two schools, an elementary and a combined junior high and high school. An overwhelming majority of the students live at or below the federal poverty level.

The new electric bus fleet of six buses, the first in Pennsylvania, will help the school achieve significant cost savings—critical funds that can be reinvested into the school. The district is expected to save $15,000 annually in the first decade, eventually scaling up to $200,000 in yearly savings.

Superintendent Mick Iskric and Council Member Willie Slade next to one of the new vehicles of the all-electric, all-solar fleet. Photo: Charlie McClanahan

“They should hit the road any day,” Mick Iskric, district superintendent, said of the district’s new electric buses.

Located in Steelton, a borough of just over 6,000 people, the school district serves an area that is just a few miles from the state capitol in Harrisburg. As its name suggests, Steelton is home to the first mill in the country that dedicated itself exclusively to the fabrication of steel. It has since become one of the few remaining rail producers across the Americas.

Funding for the school district is tight. In fact, it is historically underfunded, by more than $10 million a year, according to Iskric. Every penny counts to fund not only daily operations and programming but also bigger projects, like updating an entire bus fleet. 

“I look for every ounce. I’ll take 20 bucks,” Iskric said of funding opportunities. “We look for every revenue generator possible.”

When the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funded a federal grant through the Environmental Protection Agency to update the district’s fleet of buses, Iskric saw an unmissable opportunity. The district received a $2.3 million rebate as part of the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program, which is investing $5 billion over five years to replace existing school buses with low-to-zero emissions models.

“We were awarded the six buses but also charging infrastructure as well, so immediately that was like, this is awesome,” Iskric said. “The power of the electric bus is not only the main driver to transport kids, but there’s other factors along with it. The bus can be an energy hub that we can take into the community if there is a natural disaster or a pandemic. You can set up shop in the community to fill a void. We see it more of a resource beyond the transportation role.”

Superintendent Mick Iskric and Council Member Willie Slade observe the 1.7-megawatt solar array that powers the rural school district’s electric fleet and will save the district $15,000 annually. Photo: Charlie McClanahan

Steelton-Highspire has found creative ways to reallocate funds that would have otherwise gone towards transportation and electricity bills. The district acquired its 1.7-megawatt solar array, positioned in movable concrete tubs on top of an old landfill, through a power purchase agreement with the local McClure Company. With savings from the array and fuel savings combined, Iskric anticipates the district will save up to $15,000 annually for at least the first decade with the solar array, excluding tax incentives. After the 14th year, the district is expected to save more than $200,000 annually.

“It was a no-brainer to do a project like this,” he said.

For Iskric, every bit of savings is reinvested back into the schools. He explained that if the district is able to save $10,000 a quarter on a certain endeavor, then he knows over the course of a year that he could have enough to allocate an additional salary for a paraprofessional. It all adds up. 

Drivers and riders stand to benefit from how quiet electric school buses are. The calm environment helps students arrive at school more ready to learn, which is especially beneficial for children with sensory sensitivities. This improvement in the bus ride experience can contribute to a more positive and focused atmosphere in the classroom.

And with the flexibility that the electric fleet of buses affords the district, Iskric said he sees new and improved opportunities for outreach and support within the community that didn’t exist with the gas-powered fleet.

“We look at ourselves as more than just a school,” he said. “We support an entire community.” 

“We want to determine a way, and we’re investigating this, to allow our employees to charge their vehicles for free. It’s a way for us to attract teachers in an era of a teacher shortage. We’re not one of the higher paying school districts in the area, so we’re looking at what sets us apart,” Mick Iskric, Steelton-Highspire superintendent, shared. Photo: Charlie McClanahan

Thank you for joining us today. We hope the story of Steelton-Highspire has inspired you as much as it has inspired us. Superintendent Iskric is one of the many rural Americans making a positive impact in their communities with the support of federal funds. We encourage you to explore more of these incredible stories here. Stay tuned for more stories of innovation and resilience from the field. Until next time!

In Gratitude, 

Resource Rural

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