It’s electric! Canutillo ISD launches new fleet of electric school buses

The Canutillo Independent School District just flipped the switch on how it does school buses.

The District on Wednesday cut the ribbon on eight all-electric buses and eight fast-charge stations designed to bring clean energy vehicles into the District. The new vehicles mark the beginning of a cleaner, quieter era for student transportation in the District.

Funded in part through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program in coordination with the Office of Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, the $4.5 million project includes eight Blue Bird Type C electric buses and eight 30-kilowatt DC fast chargers. Each bus can travel up to 130 miles on a single charge and together they’ll cover more than 72,000 miles every year, transporting students to and from schools across the orange-and-blue district.

“The eight buses will go a long way in modernizing our growing fleet of buses,” said Eric Meza, the district’s transportation supervisor. “Thanks to this addition, a third of our buses are now new and electric, giving our students the most up-to-date rides to and from school available today.”

The new buses were made possible through a partnership between Canutillo ISD and the EPA, which provided $3 million in federal funding. The district contributed $1.5 million in matching funds over 10 years, an investment expected to save taxpayers more than $500,000 a year in fuel and maintenance costs.

Beyond the financial benefits, district officials said the program will improve air quality in neighborhoods where students live and play, helping make Canutillo cleaner and healthier for families.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Jesica Arellano said the addition of the electric buses continues the district’s long-standing commitment to forward-thinking leadership and community stewardship.

“It is truly an honor to stand before you today as we celebrate another milestone in Canutillo ISD’s proud history of progress and innovation,” Arellano said. “This is a community that looks to the future with determination and pride. It’s a place where our families, staff and students believe in the power of education to change lives, and they work together every single day to make that belief a reality.”

Arellano said the buses represent more than just an update to the district’s fleet — they embody Canutillo’s belief in innovation, efficiency and environmental responsibility.

“When our students see these bright yellow electric buses pull up to their schools, they’re not just seeing a new kind of bus — they’re seeing proof that their community cares about the world they are inheriting,” she said. “We are sending a message that protecting our planet starts with the choices we make right here at home.”

She also praised the district’s transportation staff for their dedication, particularly Meza and Executive Director of Operations Dr. Oscar Rico, who helped lead the implementation of the program.

The ceremony culminated with a ribbon-cutting moment led by the Canutillo ISD Board of Trustees, Arellano, transportation staff and a group of students from Bill Childress Elementary. The Canutillo High drumline counted down the final seconds before the ribbon was cut and cheers erupted from the orange-and-blue crowd.

After the ceremony, guests toured the new buses and took short demonstration rides. The vehicles’ quiet hums replaced the familiar rumble of diesel engines as students peeked out the windows and snapped photos of the district’s newest addition.

For Arellano, the moment captured what makes Canutillo unique — a community rooted in tradition but driven by innovation.

“Canutillo ISD’s vision for the future goes beyond classrooms and campuses,” she said. “It extends to everything we do — from the technology our students use in the classroom to the air they breathe on their way there.”

As the buses lined up for display, the bright yellow vehicles stood out against the backdrop of the orange-and-blue banners fluttering in the breeze — a perfect picture of Canutillo’s future: modern, sustainable and fully charged.