Durham School Services and Boise School District Launch Eight Electric School Buses for 2026-27 School Year

New buses, deployed with Durham School Services and Highland Electric Fleets, will provide cleaner student transportation and lower maintenance costs.

BOISE, ID – Boise School District (BSD) have launched eight new IC Bus electric school buses and supporting charging infrastructure for the 2026-27 school year, marking a major step in the District’s efforts to modernize student transportation and provide a healthier ride to and from school. The new buses are being deployed in partnership with Durham School Services and Highland Electric Fleets and will begin serving Boise students this school year.

BSD was awarded $2.76 million through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program to support the purchase of eight electric school buses. The funding helped the District take the project from planning to operation and bring the new buses and charging infrastructure to Boise.

“Bringing these eight electric school buses into service is an important investment in modernizing student transportation, being good neighbors by using public resources responsibly and building a more sustainable future for our community,” said Boise School District Superintendent Wendy Johnson. “We are grateful for the federal funding and the partnership of Durham School Services and Highland Electric Fleets, which have made it possible to introduce this innovative technology while creating meaningful opportunities to connect sustainability with student learning. We also thank Boise School District Sustainability Supervisor Ali Ward and Transportation Supervisor Lanette Daw for their leadership and dedication in bringing this important project to fruition.”

The new electric school buses build on BSD’s broader commitment to sustainability and responsible resource management. The District has established priorities around energy conservation, water stewardship, waste reduction and environmental education, along with a Board of Trustees-adopted commitment to clean energy. Across its schools, the District has also pursued energy-efficiency initiatives, solar and geothermal energy projects and opportunities to incorporate these efforts into student learning.

Electric school buses produce no tailpipe emissions, eliminating diesel exhaust around students as they travel to and from school. The transition also comes as maintaining healthy air quality remains important across the region, particularly for children and other vulnerable populations. In addition to the health benefits, electric buses have fewer moving parts than traditional diesel vehicles, which can reduce maintenance requirements and associated operating costs over time.

“The addition of these eight new electric school buses is another meaningful step forward towards a healthier tomorrow for Boise School District students and the community. We are proud to have had a helping hand in driving this EV project across the finish line,” said Wayne Skinner, Senior Vice President of Fleet and Procurement, Durham School Services. “This project is truly a phenomenal reflection of our shared commitment to providing our students and the communities we serve with safe, innovative transportation that they can trust and parents can depend on. Thank you to all our partners for helping bring this project to life.”

Highland Electric Fleets supported BSD and Durham School Services throughout the electrification process, including vehicle and charging infrastructure deployment and the long-term management of the electric fleet. Through its Electrification-as-a-Service (EaaS) model, Highland works with school districts and transportation providers to manage the transition to electric transportation and support fleets throughout the life of their projects.

“Replacing just five diesel school buses with electric buses can reduce the risk of pediatric asthma for approximately 1,500 students,” said Brian Buccella, Chief Commercial Officer, Highland Electric Fleets. “We’re proud to work alongside Boise School District and Durham School Services to bring eight new electric buses to the community and help create a healthier transportation environment for students, families and the broader Boise community.”