Rockwood School District hopes to have air conditioning on every general-education route bus by spring 2027 after the Board of Education approved the purchase of 18 retrofit kits at its Sept. 29 meeting.
Ten of the district's 98 route buses lack AC. The 18 aftermarket units will cover those gaps and equip spare buses at each transportation location, according to the district's announcement.
Rockwood's fleet totals 128 buses and transports more than 10,700 students each school day. Once the project is complete, 106 buses will have AC.
Director of Transportation Dr. Scott Speer said the district decided to bring the aftermarket AC purchase to the board after recognizing air conditioning was a concern for students, parents and staff. The purchase is funded through the Transportation Department's capital fund.
The vendor will help install the first unit on site and train the district's mechanics, who will then handle the remaining 17.
Speer said he hopes all units will be in place before warm weather returns in spring.
