“Our rural school districts should have the option to opt out of the requirements of the zero-emission school bus mandate. Many rural school districts have inadequate electrical infrastructure needed to utilize and recharge all-electric buses, and the cost of upgrading their facilities and infrastructure to accommodate these buses will be a tremendous burden forced onto our schools.

“Until the governor acknowledges the widespread infrastructure upgrades needed to make the transition to all-electric buses work and takes action to help offset the costs imposed on school districts, this unrealistic transition is simply not feasible for many of our smaller, rural districts. School district budgets should be used to help create the best learning environment possible for our students and school staff, not to completely foot the bill on a transition to all-electric buses with hardly any support from the state.”