Glades County embraces electric school buses, blending innovation with agricultural values to improve student health, reduce emissions, and honor the land that defines this tight-knit Florida farming community.

Nestled in the Florida Heartland, Glades County is a district defined by its wide open spaces and deep agricultural roots. At first glance, you might do a double take at an electric school bus rolling by one of its many cow pastures, but for Superintendent of Schools Dr. Alice Beth Barfield, the scene makes perfect sense.

“Most rural communities are agricultural-based, and those communities value the land — they value the air that we breathe,” Dr. Barfield said.

A sixth-generation rural Floridian, Dr. Barfield’s family has worked the land for generations. Her great-great-grandfather farmed in Pahokee, and though she once swore to marry a doctor or a lawyer rather than a farmer, she now laughs, “I’m married to a watermelon farmer. It’s in our blood — that livelihood and what I feel for my community.”

Dr. Barfield’s connection to the land and her community shaped her vision for Glades County Schools, starting with the buses she once rode. The superintendent attended school in Glades County from kindergarten through 12th grade.

“When I became superintendent, one of the things that was very quickly apparent was that we had a very aging fleet and a very small budget,” Dr. Barfield said. “I don’t even think two buses had air conditioning.”

In a county spanning nearly 1,000 square miles, some students spend vast chunks of time on school buses. Without air conditioning, many arrive overheated and exhausted and even suffer heat stroke. With the new electric buses, not only are students cooler, but they’re also calmer without having to speak over the roar of a diesel engine. These conditions create a healthier environment for students, not just physically but also mentally, and parents have started to notice.

“We’ve had a lot of phone calls just saying, ‘Thank you so much for putting my child’s safety at the forefront of your thoughts,’” Dr. Barfield said.

While introducing new technology to a community rooted in tradition has its challenges, Dr. Barfield found alignment by highlighting the values of environmental stewardship. 

“Farmers were the first environmentalists,” Dr. Barfield said. “We recognize that in order to have good crops, we must have clean air.”

Director of Administrative Services Daniel Thomas, who comes from a similar agricultural background, agreed. “Farmers really are the best stewards of the land. With these buses, it’s all about how you spin it,” he said. “There’s always going to be people who come up with reasons to be naysayers. My goal is to prove them wrong.”

In many ways, electric buses are a natural fit for a community that depends on the land. They offer additional benefits like lower long-term maintenance costs, updated route optimizers, and real-time monitoring of battery levels and location. Communication was key to promoting these benefits within the community.

“This is a very small rural district, and anything new and innovative sometimes gets frowned upon just because of the fact that we like to do things the way they’ve always been done,” Dr. Barfield said. “Those decisions that are usually the hardest for adults are what’s best for the kids.”

The transition had some obstacles: driver learning curves, technical adjustments, and infrastructure development in a rural setting. With collaboration from utility providers, the district was able to install charging stations and ensure reliable access to power. Thomas said he’s been pleasantly surprised by the affordability of the buses. 

Thomas has even begun imagining their role in disaster response. After a hurricane, the buses could be deployed as mobile cooling stations, allowing the community to charge phones, access WiFi, and contact insurance companies or FEMA while cooling off. “It’s pretty crazy what could actually come out of this, and that’s entirely to the right of their original purpose,” Thomas said. “You could not do that with a diesel bus.”

For Dr. Barfield and Thomas, the switch to electric school buses is rooted in care for the rural community — many of whom are lifelong neighbors, classmates, and family. 

“You’re kin to these people, you’re friends with these people, you went to high school with these people. You want to make sure that they’re healthy, and that’s a long-term health, not just immediate,” Dr. Barfield said.

When it comes to any remaining naysayers, Thomas is determined to change minds and prove that electric school buses work in rural areas.

“It was an absolute blessing on this community to be able to get these buses,” Thomas said. “Their kids are riding around on brand new, air-conditioned buses, and that’s got to be worth something.”