MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District recently expanded its transportation fleet with the addition of three brand new vehicles, poised to improve both student safety and daily commuting experiences, according to the Transportation Director of Operations Aimee Cook.  

“I just love seeing new buses out there on the road. They’re shiny, and I like the community seeing that,” Cook said.  

The 2026 International conventional buses, which each hold 77 passengers, will primarily serve general education routes within the district. The routes for next school year are still being finalized, Cook said, so she is unsure which routes the new buses will be on.  

The funding for these new buses comes from the state Transportation Vehicle Fund, overseen by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  

According to Cook, the district has been reimbursed through OSPI for bus purchases over the past decade.  

"The buses were all purchased from the transportation vehicle fund, which is the reimbursement fund from all the purchases of previous buses," Cook said.  

She said that no general district funds were utilized for this acquisition. 

The total investment in the three new buses amounts to $510,000, at a cost of $170,000 per bus.  

With an expected lifespan of over 20 years, these vehicles are backed by an intensive preventative maintenance program that ensures they remain in excellent condition throughout their operational life.  

"We check everything daily to make sure that they stay up to standards to run," Cook said. 

In addition to their modern design, these buses come equipped with updated safety features, including a child-check system that requires drivers to walk to the back of the bus before exiting to ensure no students are left behind.  

"One of the big things is teaching students how to respect new equipment so that it stays new and fancy for them," Cook said. 

Other notable safety enhancements include adherence to the latest specifications set by the State Patrol, including specific guidelines for seat angles to maximize safety in the event of an accident, Cook explained.  

Furthermore, the introduction of a new electronic braking system signifies a shift towards more advanced technology, allowing drivers to engage the emergency brake with a button rather than a traditional lever. 

For community members interested in viewing the new buses, Cook invites them to reach out to the transportation department.  

“If people want to tour the buses, they can just give us a call and we will set up an appointment to show them off,” Cook said.