News & press arhcives

from the Mountain Press
January 12, 2005

SEVIERVILLE - Sevier County Board of Education learned Monday that it was the only system in Tennessee and one of only 62 systems in the nation selected to apply for $708,000 in funding from the Clean Buses for Kids Diesel Retrofit Program.

The school system will enter into a funding agreement with the program administrator, ICF Incorporated, LLC, for funding to retrofit 101 Sevier County school buses with diesel particulate filters. The Clean Buses for Kids Program was undertaken in connection with the settlement of an enforcement action, United States v. Toyota Motor Corp., brought on behalf of the EPA under the Clean Air Act.

Additionally, the Board of Education voted to implement a bus idling reduction program in which the engines will be turned off as soon as possible after arriving at loading or unloading areas and not restarted until ready to leave.

Dr. Jack Parton, director of schools, said the anti-idling policy will be healthier for the students, save fuel and contribute to cleaner air.