Mississippi Agency Awards Nearly $300K for New Diesel School Buses
Seventeen school districts in the state get rebates of up to $15,000 per bus from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
Seventeen school districts received rebates of up to $15,000 per new bus from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
JACKSON, Miss. — The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has awarded $295,920 to help 17 school districts buy new school buses.
The MDEQ provided the funding in the form of rebates toward the purchase of new diesel-powered school buses with more stringent emissions controls. The agency said that the new buses will replace older models, reducing emissions of particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide.
Since 2009, the MDEQ Diesel School Bus Replacement Program has awarded about $1.08 million to 38 school districts for the purchase of 67 school buses.
“Because thousands of Mississippi children begin and end their days with a trip on a school bus, providing for clean school buses is an ongoing priority for the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality,” MDEQ Executive Director Gary Rikard said. “School buses are the safest and most efficient way to transport students, but we want to ensure that it’s a healthy trip.”
The latest Mississippi school bus rebate recipients are:
• Cleveland School District — $28,640 for two buses.
• Greenville Public School District — $28,640 for two buses.
• Lawrence County School District — $28,640 for two buses.
• Alcorn School District — $15,000 for one bus.
• Coahoma Early College High School — $15,000 for one bus.
• Greene County School District — $15,000 for one bus.
• Harrison County School District — $15,000 for one bus.
• Leake County School District — $15,000 for one bus.
• Lee County School District — $15,000 for one bus.
• Long Beach School District — $15,000 for one bus.
• Monroe County School District — $15,000 for one bus.
• North Bolivar Consolidated School District — $15,000 for one bus.
• North Pike School District — $15,000 for one bus.
• Pontotoc City School District — $15,000 for one bus.
• Pontotoc County School District — $15,000 for one bus.
• Starkville Oktibbeha School District — $15,000 for one bus.
• West Jasper School District — $15,000 for one bus.
The MDEQ has also encouraged school districts to adopt anti-idling policies. The implementation of such a policy was a requirement for the districts that received funds for school buses this year.
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