Take a walk down the halls of Edna and John W. Mosley P-8 and you will hear all sorts of answers to the question: What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
For Mosley seventh grader Quincy Williams, the answer is pretty straightforward.
"I want to attend college and ultimately become a professional basketball player," said Williams.
Dreams for the future rely on a sustainable world where students like Williams can engage to their fullest potential. That is why Aurora Public Schools was proud to take advantage of the Regional Air Quality Council grant that awarded the district with $2.2 million to replace older diesel school buses with more efficient electric buses. These efforts are part of our commitment to being good global citizens by improving air quality in our community.
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Colorado Governor Jared Polis joins Mosley P-8 students (Quincy Williams right of Polis) to tour the district's new electricity-powered school buses
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Environmental Protection Agency Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe, Governor Jared Polis and other clean energy advocates recently joined together at Mosley to tour the new electric school buses. They praised the district for leading the way in adopting electric buses and encouraged other districts to make the switch.
"The healthiest school bus is the one without a tailpipe," said McCabe. "I applaud the State of Colorado for making clean school buses a priority and setting aside millions of dollars to help districts transition their fleets."
These electric buses represent a shift toward cleaner and healthier transportation for Aurora Public Schools students. Taking old diesel or gas-operated buses off the road will also save the district money on operating and maintenance costs in the long run.
It is a step toward a cleaner future and world for our students to thrive in. The buses are part of the district's broader effort to reduce carbon emissions. In the coming years, there are plans to install a solar bus canopy that will help protect electric school buses while also powering them along with adjacent buildings. These investments will help Aurora Public Schools power a healthier tomorrow for our community.
"There's nothing more important than taking care of our planet," said Williams. "Working to better our environment and world is everyone's responsibility."