ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - The Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Education approved the purchase of 16 new electric-powered buses at its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 4. 

The buses will cost $6,957,198 and will be paid with a combination of grants. The first grant, worth about $2.25 million was secured from the California Air Resources Board Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project. The remaining balance of $4,713,198 will come from the district and later reimbursed by an Environmental Protection Agency Clean School Bus Rebate Program grant, which awarded $5,520,000 to the district. 

The remaining portion of the grant will go toward purchasing electric vehicle charging stations.  

Each bus can carry 36 students, and are wheelchair capable, with air conditioning and AC/DC charging. 

The district made use of a bid from the South County Support Services Agency. Public Contract Code allows government agencies to bypass the public competitive bidding process by making use of another contract secured by another public agency.

Measure M Citizens’ Oversight Committee 

The application period for the Elk Grove Unified School District’s independent Board of Education Measure M Citizens’ Oversight Committee is slated to close on tktkt and the district is looking for more applications. 

Elk Grove voters approved Measure M in 2016, a general obligation bond authorizing the issuance of up to $476 million in bonds. Education code requires the district to form an independent citizen’s oversight committee to inform the public on the expenditures of Measure M bond revenues and monitor compliance with funding guidelines. 

The committee is required to meet at least once a year but is encouraged to meet quarterly. 

The committee must have at least seven members that are not employees of, or an official for the school district. Each member appointed by the board of education will serve for a two-year term for no more than three consecutive terms. The committee members are not compensated. 

Applicants must live within the Elk Grove Unified School District boundaries. An application can be found at egusd.net. 

EGUSD Recruitment Fair 

Feb. 22 at Valley High 

In anticipation of some 200 positions that will need to be filled for the 2025-2026 school year, the Elk Grove Unified School District is hosting a certificated educator recruitment fair from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 22. 

The event will take place at Valley High School at 6300 Ehrhardt Ave. in Sacramento.

“Whether you are relatively new to education or a seasoned professional – and regardless of where you come from – consider making a significant contribution to the educational development of students in Elk Grove Unified School District,” the district wrote in a post announcing the fair. 

The district is recruiting for a variety of positions, including principals, vice principals, kindergarten through 12th grade teachers, preschool instructors and a mix of special education professionals. 

For more information, or to sign up for the event, visit website, egusd.net. 

Student Board Member Applications Remain Open 

The deadline to apply to be the 2025-26 Elk Grove Unified School District student board member is quickly approaching. 

The student school board member is a preferential voting member and student advisor to the superintendent and the Board of Trustees. In addition to their regular duties, the board member provides the district with information on student matters and concerns. 

The completed application packet must be submitted to the student’s site principal by 4 p.m. Feb. 21.  

The position is currently held by Celine Qin, a senior at Franklin High School and founder of The Reclamation Project@916, a grassroots organization dedicated to promoting social justice and systemic change and equity.