Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

South Texas K–12 District Debuts Region’s First Electric Bus Fleet

  • By Matt Jones
  • 10/28/25

The Valley View Independent School District in Pharr, Texas, recently announced a partnership with Highland Electric Fleets to launch the district’s—and the region’s—first fleet of all-electric school buses, according to a news release. The fleet consists of eight Thomas Built Type-C electric buses and eight Tellus 30kW chargers, with the ultimate goal of reducing district operating expenses and providing cleaner and quieter rides for students.

According to the news release, the move will reduce fuel and maintenance costs as well as overall transportation expenses by up to 25 percent. Benefits to students, meanwhile, include “cleaner air, a quieter ride, and air conditioning to keep them comfortable in the South Texas heat.” The district held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to debut the fleet on Thursday, October 16.

"Valley View ISD is proud to bring the first electric school buses to our community," said Valley View ISD Interim Superintendent Monica Luna. "This project helps us lower transportation costs while giving our students cleaner air to breathe. A healthier, quieter ride means they can arrive at school ready to learn."

The district partnered with Highland Electric Fleets for the transition. Highland Electric, which offers Electrification-as-a-Service to districts, will manage the buses, charging infrastructure, and ongoing maintenance and support needs. Each new bus will average about 40 miles a day on its morning and afternoon routes, the news release reports.

"This milestone shows what's possible when schools, communities, and partners work together," said Highland Electric Fleets Regional Business Manager Mattew Scott. "For Valley View, it means students breathing cleaner air, reliable buses for drivers, and savings the district can put back into classrooms."

The project cost $2.7 million, and funding came from the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • UCNJ Launches $30M Modernization of Physical Education Center

    The Union College of Union County (UCNJ) in Cranford, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $30-million modernization project for its Physical Education Center (PECK), according to a news release. The college partnered with DIGroup Architecture for the project’s design, transitioning the existing 42,000-square-foot structure into a campus hub for student athletics and campus life.

  • textured paper collage shows a school building on fire as a fire truck sprays water into the flames

    Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

    We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.

  • Indiana Wesleyan University Schedules Grand Opening for New Welcome Center

    Indiana Wesleyan University recently announced that it will soon open a new Welcome Center on its campus in Marion, Ind., according to a news release. The facility will serve as the home base for prospective students and their families to learn more about the university and student life there. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for February 19.

  • Niles West High School Natatorium Renovation

    Natatoriums are highly specialized spaces, and luminaires in this setting face several unique challenges. Perhaps the most significant is corrosion, which is exacerbated by high indoor humidity, condensation, and pool chemicals, often resulting in material degradation in luminaires not certified to perform in corrosive environments.

Digital Edition