Wall, N.J. July 23, 2025 –Student Transportation of America (STA)—an industry leader in student transportation, safety, and fleet services—is partnering with Bloom Township District 206 in Chicago Heights, Illinois to launch its largest Electric Vehicle (EV) deployment to date. This fall, the district will welcome 25 EV school buses to its routes as part of a broader sustainability initiative.  

To gear up for the major deployment, STA hosted a specialized workforce training at its local terminal this past week, focused primarily on electric bus operations, safety, and maintenance. More than 40 district staff, STA drivers and maintenance professionals attended the July 8 all-day training. Vehicles were delivered to the lot a week prior.  

“I’m thrilled to see Bloom Township embrace the benefits of electric vehicles. This deployment, our largest EV rollouts to date, represents a major step forward in reducing emissions not only within the community, but across the state of Illinois,” said Rachel Lane, Vice President of Electrification & Sustainability at STA. “We are working closely with the district to ensure a smooth integration of these vehicles into their existing fleet and daily operations. Our training session is a critical part of that process.” 

The comprehensive training was designed to equip district staff, STA drivers, and maintenance teams with the knowledge and skills needed to safely and efficiently operate the new EV fleet. STA works closely with leading EV manufacturers to develop the content. The program covered a wide range of topics including charging protocols, safe driving practices, and emergency response procedures.  

Lane adds, “This session gives the local team the opportunity to explore the new buses, learn the technology, and gain hands-on experience with safe driving and maintenance best practices. It’s all about setting the stage for a successful and sustainable school year.” 

In total, all 25 EV buses will be assigned to Bloom Township District 206 for the 2025-2026 school, with two earmarked to support the special education routes. Additional buses will be added later in the school year. The district’s EV bus purchases were funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean School Bus Program, a federal grant designed to help accelerate the industry’s transition to zero-emission vehicles, as well as produce cleaner air in and around schools and communities. The vehicles will directly replace higher-emission vehicles within the district’s fleet.  

Lane’s team will now track battery life, monitor component life, and collect other key data as the electric buses service routes throughout Chicago Heights. With electric fleets planned for urban, suburban, and rural areas, this information will give the company actionable intelligence into the performance of electric vehicles in distinct operating environments. 

This continued movement toward more EV vehicles is part of the STA’s ambitious Green Fleet initiative, led by Lane. Between 2024-2025, STA has successfully expanded its EV program to new markets including Seymour, CT, Wells, ME, Weare, NH, White River Valley, VT and most recently, Barker, NY. Existing district markets that have already seen success in EV, like Pine-Richland School District in PA, are also making moves to add additional vehicles to their fleets. Through the help of grants, incentive projects, strategic partnerships, and investments, STA plans to continue to expand its electric bus initiative into additional markets in the coming months. STA anticipates at least 140 new EV buses on the road in 2026. 

To learn more about STA’s commitment to a greener future and the latest sustainability solutions being implemented in districts around the country, visit: ridesta.com/services/sustainability-solutions. 

### 

About Student Transportation of America
Student Transportation of America (STA), an industry leader in school transportation and fleet services, was founded in 1997 on the bedrock of family, community, and a safety-first mindset. Operating more than 22,000 vehicles, STA provides customers with the highest level of safe and reliable student transportation, management, logistics, and technology solutions throughout the U.S. and Canada. The company is focused on fostering a safety-driven culture that empowers its employees to feel proud of their work, delivering safe, reliable, and on-time service. Additionally, STA’s commitment to positively impacting the health of our passengers and the planet is evident through its conscious decision to undertake each initiative to decrease its carbon footprint to help move the company and industry toward a greener future. For more information, please visit www.rideSTA.com.