New Braunfels ISD adds buses equipped with AC units to district fleet

During a Feb. 8 school board meeting, the New Braunfels ISD board of trustees elected to purchase four new buses equipped with air conditioning to replace several aging vehicles.

Among the 35-40 buses used daily to transport students and staff, only some are currently equipped with AC units.

The district will pay $441,816 for four buses with AC already installed, as compared to the $401,896 it would cost for four buses without the system.

Installing units on existing buses would cost the district between $420,000-$480,000, and some board members expressed concern that incurring such costs would not be beneficial, as more buses will need to be replaced in coming years.

“It’s really hot in Texas,” trustee Nancy York said. “It’s time to start investing in some AC buses for our students that are on long routes.”

At the meeting, the board discussed a plan to gradually replace older vehicles with new models that have AC units already installed as a way to avoid major upfront costs.