Electric Bus Deal in Montgomery County Hits a Roadblock
The Maryland State Board of Education has made a final decision to uphold its earlier ruling. The board declared that a $168 million electric bus deal was not legal. The Montgomery County Public School District (MCPS) had awarded this contract to Highland Electric Fleets. The district attempted to challenge the decision, but the state board denied the appeal.
Background and Scrutiny
This deal has been under intense scrutiny. The state board found that MCPS did not follow its own bidding rules. The district terminated the contract last summer, but Highland had only delivered 285 out of the 326 buses promised.
Financial and Operational Concerns
- A public report questioned the district's claim that switching to electric buses would not change transportation costs.
- The Montgomery County Inspector General raised concerns that the district failed to recover $372,000 from Highland for buses that did not work.
Criminal Activity and Bidding Process
The state board's report mentioned criminal activity. Two former MCPS officials involved in the deal were convicted of stealing money from the project, which compromised the bidding process.
Watchdog Group's Reaction
A watchdog group criticized the district's handling of the issue. Janis Zink Sartucci from the Parents Coalition of Montgomery County called the findings unprecedented. She criticized the district for spending money on legal fees instead of addressing the problem.
MCPS and Highland's Response
- MCPS is still reviewing the state's decision and has not yet stated how this will affect the district.
- Highland Electric Fleets did not comment on the matter, and the state board also denied their appeal.
Ongoing Financial Obligations
Even though the contract is terminated, MCPS will continue working with Highland. The district leases the buses and charging stations, meaning taxpayers will keep paying annual lease fees for years.
