State Assembly members, including Andrew Molitor, R-Westfield, promote a bill that would allow schools to opt out of the zero-emission bus requirement this week in Albany.

New York state Assembly newcomer Andrew Molitor did not take long to get charged up over an issue that rankles many of his constituents and upstate residents when it comes to a future operation of their school district. The Westfield Republican this week joined Assemblyman Robert Smullen, R-Mohawk Valley, at a press conference regarding zero-emission school bus requirements for 2027 that are being touted in the capital.

Smullen was promoting a bill that authorizes school districts to submit a waiver to the education commissioner allowing them to officially opt out of the transportation vehicle requirement. In the news release, Smullen said the transition to zero-emission buses is not achievable for many rural districts due to challenges with costs, electrical capacity, driver shortages, difficult terrain and weather-related issues.

“With that deadline approaching, many school districts are worried, and rightly so,” he said. “While school leaders understand the effects of a changing climate on their districts and also understand the goals of the transition to all zero-emissions school buses, New York is one of the most socioeconomically and geographically diverse states in the nation. This rushed, complex transition to zero-emission buses is simply not achievable for a significant number of school districts statewide, especially rural districts.”

Besides Molitor and Smullen, school superintendents from eastern New York were in attendance for the announcement. In Chautauqua County, boards are outspoken regarding the effort. Cost is the major factor with most of the buses costing about $400,000 each. But that does not take into account major upgrades and expansions that need to happen at district garages to accommodate these vehicles.

For his part, Molitor criticized the electric school bus mandate. “New York produces less than 1% of all carbon dioxide produced in the world,” he said, “why bring school districts and property taxpayers to their financial knees when our state’s emissions will have no impact on world climate?”

His home school district has been one of the more vocal regarding the transition. Tom Tarpley on behalf of the school board recently wrote a letter to state Gov. Kathy Hochul to request a delay in implementing the program due to the uncertainty in price and safety. One estimate the Westfield Academy & Central Schools received was $2.5 million tied to infrastructure improvements to house the vehicles.

More than a month later, there’s been no indication of a response.

One district within the region seeing some strides with the electric buses is Lake Shore Central Schools. With two EV transporters already in operation, the district based in Evans-Brant, was a recipient of a $7.9 million grant for 20 electric school buses and charging stations in January 2024.

Lake Shore said at the time it transports more than 2,000 students to 13 public, private and special needs locations throughout Western New York each school day. At the time, the district had 54 school buses, which means this latest grant boosts the number of zero-emission school buses in the fleet to almost 50%. By all accounts, Lake Shore has been one of the most proactive in the electric bus initiative in this region.

Two area schools left out of the discussion regarding the process are Dunkirk and Fredonia. Both north-county districts contract with First Student for transportation needs, including those of athletic events.

First Student, in 2021, stated it was the largest operator of school buses in the state. The company has more than 50 locations with about 4,000 of its employees managing approximately 3,800 bus routes and a fleet of nearly 4,200 vehicles.

Nationally, the company says it has committed to transition 30,000 of its diesel buses to electric by 2035 to improve the health and well-being of even more students and communities.

Why more than 700 school districts in New York dealing with full implementation of the zero-emission bus mandate would not look to First Student or another company as an option is proof that even the smallest area schools do little to watch or reduce expenses.

Smullen’s opt-out proposal could also put some schools and its leadership in an uncomfortable position. Districts already require 55% to 75% of their revenue to come from state aid. If those schools are putting up a fight with Albany, future funding may be at risk.

Of course, districts could go a different direction and contract for student bus service, instead of being the provider. That option may bring savings. But there would be a lot less maintenance and worries over a changing transportation landscape that is being accelerated by Albany.

John D’Agostino is the editor of The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 716-487-1111, ext. 253.