McKinney ISD will receive 55 new school buses after approval from the board of trustees at its March 22 meeting.

The district’s 2021 bond program allotted $12 million for the purchase of buses, according to meeting documents. MISD expects to buy buses in three separate transactions, the documents stated. The first purchase was approved at the March meeting for about $5.8 million.

The new buses consist of 21 48-passenger buses, which accommodate wheelchairs; 15 77-passenger buses; 10 44-passenger buses, known as activity buses; and nine 82-passenger buses.

Longhorn Bus Sales, the supplier, estimated the district would receive the buses in about 270 days, although supply-chain issues could delay the arrival.

The 2021 bond program allows MISD to own its own buses, which is a change from the current structure, according to meeting documents. Durham School Services provides the district’s buses. Once the district receives the buses from Longhorn Bus Sales, it will be able to control how fast the fleets age, per meeting documents.

Ownership also allows the district to shift the capital expense of buses from the maintenance & operating fund to the interest & sinking fund, according to meeting documents.

Once the third purchase of buses is completed, for which a date has not yet been set, the district will own its entire fleet of buses.