Royal Oak Schools

Royal Oak Schools Goes Electric with $4.45 Million Clean Bus Energy Grant

(Royal Oak, MI) Royal Oak Schools has been awarded a $4.45 million Clean Bus Energy Grant from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), advancing the district’s commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible resource management.

The state-funded grant will support the transition from traditional fuel-powered buses to electric buses. Funding will be used to cover the necessary charging infrastructure to support a modernized, energy-efficient fleet and to purchase approximately 10 new electric vehicles.

This investment directly aligns with the district’s environmental sustainability goals and supports its strategic plan priority of “optimizing resources” by securing significant state funding to modernize operations while reducing long-term operational costs.

District leadership has already begun planning for the infrastructure required to successfully implement the transition, ensuring a smooth rollout and long-term reliability of the new electric fleet.

“Electric busing represents an important step forward for our community,” said Tim Ciechorski, President, Board of Education. “This grant allows us to reduce emissions, invest in cleaner transportation for students, and responsibly steward taxpayer resources through strategic state funding.”

Royal Oak Schools anticipates completing infrastructure work and launching the electric vehicles in Fall 2027.

View full press release here. [link to pdf file]