Fulton County
Shopping Guide News Wednesday, January 3, 2024
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Caston becomes
ONE OF 12 school corporations in Indiana
with an electric
BUS
By LEAH SANDER Staff Writer
“When I said something to Josh, if Josh didn’t want to do it, we wouldn’t have done it, but ... it kind of piqued your interest too just to see,” said Miller, talking to Lowe. “It basically came down to after going and looking at one and inspecting it, if we were granted the money, that was a win for us as far as cost,” said Lowe. He noted the corporation only had to pay about $60,000 for the electric bus with the EPA funding whereas a new regular diesel bus would cost approximately $130,000. The corporation learned in October 2022 it received the grant for the bus, with it getting the vehicle on Dec. 13, 2023. “We have to keep the bus for
five years” according to the EPA funding rules, said Miller. Its battery warranty is for 10 years. Fulton County REMC installed a charger for the bus on the school campus “and picked it out and did all the legwork there too.” With the lack of other charging stations being nearby and the bus’s maximum battery life being at 130 miles before it needs recharged, the bus was designated for a regular school route instead of long distances for extracurricular activities. However, Lowe pointed out it still could be taken to nearby schools in Cass, Fulton and Miami counties. He called the driver chosen to drive the bus, Greg DuVall, “very competent” and “a sea-
soned driver.” “His route is roughly 55 miles (daily),” said Lowe. DuVall is driving the bus in the southern part of the school district in Cass County and part of Miami County. “We’re learning together,” said Lowe. “I sent him over to the dealership ... where we purchased the bus, and he was over there talking to the mechanics and the salesmen and everything a week before we got the bus. I took him (when) we received the bus and we got trained as much as possible there, so he’s just been taking it all in with me.” While taking the bus for a short drive across the parking lot, Lowe noted “it doesn’t handle any difContinued on page 2
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The Caston School Corp. has become only one of 12 school corporations in Indiana with an electric bus. According to information provided by Drive Clean Indiana Program Director Ryan Lisek, Caston joins Delphi Community School Corp., Monroe County Community School Corp., South Bend Community School Corp., the School Town of Munster, Hamilton Southeastern School Corp., North Central Parke Community School Corp., Rensselaer Central Schools Corp., Crown Point Community School Corp., Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp., Carmel Clay Schools and Paramount Schools of Excellence, Indianapolis, in having at least one electric bus. Caston Transportation Director Josh Lowe said the new bus was first used on a regular route on Dec. 20, with it utilized to transport wrestlers to a meet in Rochester the weekend prior. The corporation received $395,000 in Environmental Protection Agency Clean School Bus
funding for the brand-new Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 bus and its charging station, having to foot about $60,000 of the cost itself. The vehicle was purchased from Kerlin Bus Sales of Silver Lake. Lowe said Caston Superintendent Angie Miller “headed” the effort to obtain the grant, which started in 2022 while she was curriculum director. Miller, who serves on the Fulton County REMC Board, said she learned of the grant from the county REMC CEO Andrew Horstman. Representatives from the school looked at an electric bus before applying for the grant in August 2022. “I guess through REMC I had an interest in EVs,” said Miller.
NEW ELECTRIC BUS — The Caston School Corp. is one of only 12 school corporations in Indiana to have an electric bus, which it received in December. Shown with the bus on Dec. 21 are Caston Transportation Director Josh Lowe, left, and Superintendent Angie Miller. Photo by Leah Sander.
SAFETY TRAINING — Caston had a safety training regarding the bus on Dec. 20 for its bus drivers and area first responders. Photo provided by Caston School Corp.
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