Valley View ISD’s new electric school buses, provided through a partnership with Highland Electric Fleets, are expected to reduce transportation costs and emissions across the district.
Photo: Highland Electric Fleets
2 min to read
Valley View Independent School District (ISD), in partnership with Highland Electric Fleets, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the launch of the district’s first fleet of electric school buses. The project marks Highland’s first fleet electrification initiative in South Texas and includes eight Thomas Built Type-C electric buses and eight Tellus 30kW chargers.
Cleaner, Quieter, and More Cost-Efficient
With the addition of electric buses, Valley View ISD aims to reduce fuel and maintenance expenses by as much as 25%. The new buses provide quieter rides, lower emissions, and air conditioning to ensure comfort for students traveling in the South Texas heat.
Ad Loading...
“Valley View ISD is proud to bring the first electric school buses to our community,” said Monica Luna, interim superintendent at Valley View ISD. “This project helps us cut transportation costs while giving our students a cleaner, healthier ride to school.”
Partnership with Highland Electric Fleets
Highland Electric Fleets, a provider of Electrification-as-a-Service for school districts, worked with Valley View ISD to deliver a turnkey solution that includes the buses, charging equipment, and long-term maintenance. The electric buses now serve daily routes across the district, averaging about 40 miles per day.
“This milestone shows what’s possible when schools and partners work together,” said Matthew Scott, regional business manager for Highland Electric Fleets. “For Valley View, it means cleaner air for students, reliable buses for drivers, and savings that can be reinvested in classrooms.”
Highland Electric's Matthew Scott speaks with a Valley View employee about the new charging infrastructure.
Photo: Highland Electric Fleets
Funding and Event Highlights
The project received $2.7 million in funding through the third round of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program.
The ribbon-cutting event, held Oct. 16, 2025, at the district’s transportation department behind Valley View North Elementary, featured remarks from students, school administrators, and partner representatives. Attendees toured the charging infrastructure and participated in a ride-along aboard one of the new electric school buses.
Check out some of the latest moves where alternative fuels and school buses intersect, including electric and propane bus deployments, new EV products, and an update from CARB.
Keeping buses safe, reliable, and on schedule requires more than manual processes. This eBook explores how modern fleet software supports school transportation teams with automated maintenance scheduling, smarter video safety tools, and integrated data systems. Discover practical ways fleets are reducing breakdowns, improving safety, and saving valuable staff time.
Check out some of the latest moves where alternative fuels and school buses intersect, including manufacturing expansions, major funding awards, and energy storage strategies.
Electric school bus success hinges on long-term planning, which means smart financing, battery management, and service-based models that keep fleets reliable for years.
Check out some of the latest moves where alternative fuels and school buses intersect, including new product announcements and bus deployments across the U.S.
South Coast AQMD plans to replace 286 older buses with newer models, plus accompanying infrastructure, across 35 districts in the South Coast Air Basin.
One program ends, another looks to be reimagined, and the Clean School Bus Program is in a holding pattern — here’s where each EPA program stands and what to expect moving forward.
The Illinois district’s new electric bus fleet, supported by EPA grants, ComEd incentives, and Highland Electric Fleets, advances its commitment to sustainable school operations.
