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Corbin schools welcome new hybrid bus into fleet
Posted On 01 Sep 2010
When students on the east side of Corbin board the school bus Wednesday, they may be experiencing the future as the Corbin School System’s first hybrid school bus takes to the road.
Bus No. 67, a diesel-electric hybrid, was unveiled Tuesday at Whayne Supply Company.
"It will replace the 59 bus, which covers the east side of town, east of Master Street," said Josh VanNorstran, director of transportation for the school system.
The hybrid bus costs about $134,596. Federal stimulus money in the amount of $54,750 covered the difference between the hybrid bus and a traditional bus.
However, VanNorstran said the hybrid bus gets about 11 to 12 miles per gallon of diesel compared to the six miles per gallon of a traditional bus. Over the course of a year, a school will average about 14,000 miles.
While it will cost the school system about $7,000 to fuel a regular bus for a year, it will cost about $3,652.17 to fuel the hybrid with diesel costing about $3 per gallon. The regular bus will use about 2,300 gallons of diesel in a year, while the hybrid will use about 1,200.
"We get about 16 or 17 years out of a bus," VanNorstran said.
With diesel fuel costing about $3 per gallon, over the life of the hybrid bus, the school system will save almost $57,000 in fuel cost.
"At Corbin Independent, we want to do our part for a clean environment and as we replace business in our fleet, our goal is to go hybrid if funds are available," Corbin Superintendent Ed McNeel said.
McNeel had a special guest for the presentation of the bus. Kentucky Education Secretary Terry Holliday was visiting the district Tuesday as part of his endeavor to visit the 174 school districts in Kentucky.
"The Corbin School District certainly has a rich history, but what is most impressive is how supportive the community is," Holliday said.
Rick Eaton, of Eaton, which designed and built the hybrid drive system for the bus, said a series of batteries supplies power to transmission. When the bus is in motion but the driver is not pushing on the accelerator, that energy is being used to recharge the batteries.
"The braking power that was once dissipated into the air, is now being used," Eaton said.
Eaton said the hybrid system is made up of the batteries, a series of wires and transmission, which runs the bus on electric until it exceeds 35 mph. After that, it runs on the diesel power.
"If you want to fit this bus with the next generation, it can be done in the same time it takes to pull the transmission, wires and batteries and replace them," Eaton said.
Eaton said the hybrid drive comes with a five-year warranty. As for routine maintenance, technicians at Whayne Supply in Corbin have been taking classes on the system.
"We will just bring it to the great guys at Whayne Supply just like we do with our other buses," VanNorstran said.
Corbin will join Larue County, Allen County, Franklin County, Pike County and Covington Independent and Frankfort Independent Schools in running at least one of the hybrid buses. Through federal stimulus money, 22 public school districts across the commonwealth will eventually have at least one of the hybrid buses in its fleets.
"Whayne Supply Company is committed to shaping the future of student transportation in a cleaner environment and we are pleased to offer Thomas Built Buses with state of the industry Eaton hybrid technology to school systems across Kentucky," said. Barry Zink, on highway business manager for Whayne Supply.
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Has there been any update to the investigation by the AG?
IMHO, I think that anyone who is applying for such a high-profile job is already aware that all of their “personal information” is going to be publicized. I would think that they would expect that kind of scrutiny from the moment they submitted their application. We’re not talking about their birth certificates or their home phone numbers, just their level of education, job history and other qualifications.
Personally, I think the school board passed up the perfect opportunity to make a much-needed change for our children. I don’t know Mr. Cummins, but I applaud his efforts in trying to shed light on some of the back-room, good-old-boy deals that have historically been made in the BOE. The local politicians in this county seem to rely on the ignorance, acquiescence and frank indifference of its citizens to better themselves, both politically and financially. If more people would follow his example and stop settling for the status quo, then our children would stand a much better chance of success in the wide world outside of Whitley County.
I wonder if this is a moot point, though, as I am not familiar with the laws involved. If the AG decides that the BOE should hand over the resumes in question, will it make any difference in who is set to be the superintendent for the next 20 years? It will be interesting to see the results of their investigation.
Thanks, News Journal, for keeping us informed!
Corruption in Whitley county is rampant and horrible. From the Sheriff’s dept to the school board. Even the Animal shelter had problems. Why? Because of the good old boy syndrome and the names that are associated with the county. Anderson, Paul, Carter, White, Foley, Hodge, Moses, and etc. You get the picture. We need a better system. I think the superintendant needs to be an elected official just like the Judge Exec and county clerk.
Well Pathetic the reason for that is because they are all in thick with the school system. probably have relatives that work there and stuff. Whitley Republican is the only one that has the guts to report the truth anymore.
Thank God the newspaper is starting to expose the corruption at the schools. None of the other papers or radio seem to care.
Everyone has an oppinion so I will give mine. When they chose the new superintendent they chose for the name “PAUL”. Its all got to do with family members working for the school. I applied for a full time job with the school and was turned down. But they would work me everyday as a sub. The did not want to hire me and give me benifits, I was always told how good of a job I was doing. I left the school because I was not a family member of the (Anderson’s or Pauls) and I knew my career was going nowhere. If you ask all the parents in the school system if they could vote would they voted “PAUL” the answer would have been “NO”. This year since my son has started school all he comes home and talks about is how much money the school lost last year for all the days they missed. Do you this this is educational? Guess that is why we are not ranked higher because our children are not being taught what they should be. All they are hearing are the grown up problems going on in their teachers life or how the school lost money. Everyone of those members who chose “PAUL” was either related to “PAUL or ANDERSON”
something just dont smell right here. no interviews. dont want to give up the applications. what have they got to hide?
they should have interviewed some people. that just doesnt seem right what they did. they just rubber stamped one guy.
I read the article concerning a question on the Superintendent selection process for the Whitley County School District. I was somewhat reluctant to send this in because I was one of the applicants for the position. I am from Kentucky (31 years in education) but from outside the Whitley Co. district. As a career educator and administrator I always want any screening person or committee to review all applications and bring in those they feel warrant an interview. Yes, it is discouraging to apply for a position when you feel you have a great deal to offer and then not get the opportunity to sit down face to face to share your passion for education and students. This being said, I understand that screening committees and boards of education have the option / right to interview those they feel are qualified and to hire as they deem appropriate. I personally would not be embarassed concerning anything that is in my resume’ / application packet. To be perfectly honest, I am proud of my leadership record and what I have accomplished. My current school district and Superintendent were fully aware of my search.
I wish nothing but the best for the Whitley County School District and especially the students – the most important factor.
Some Counties hire by bloodline not qualifications.
Mahan said there were some other applicants who had more educational experience than Paul.
“Some of them had doctorates maybe, but they were out of state. We knew nothing about them.”
Did this guy really say this???? They “knew nothing about them” because they were NOT interviewed! Mahan you, sir, are an idiot.
Lonnie Anderson may have retired, but his cronies are still on the Board of Education. Delmar Mahan should have the last name Anderson. Why were outside people not considered ? Because, an outside person may expose corruption of our school system. IMO