MINA Charter School of Lee County has been announced as a recipient of grant funding from the Environmental Protection Agency’s new Clean Bus Program, which will allocate $1 billion each year nationwide over the next five years to help schools replace their bus fleets with new clean low-emission or electric alternatives. MINA is one of only five schools in North Carolina to be awarded Clean School Bus funds and will receive an allocation of $2.765 million to purchase seven new electric buses. Over 2,000 schools and school districts nationwide applied for the program for 2022.

MINA Charter School Lead Administrator Dr. Shawn E. Williams said he’s honored by the school’s recognition and is eager to bring new environmentally-friendly transportation to its scholars in Lee County and beyond.

“This award is another example of the commitment we have to providing quality education for our students in every regard,” Williams said. “We were eager to apply for this grant, because we see a commitment to better air quality and an improved environment as a way to help us be a responsible member of our community. This is a mindset that we teach to our students each day. It will be good for our scholars to see MINA put this philosophy into action. Our new buses will reduce greenhouse gas pollution and better protect our children’s health.”

As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the EPA’s Clean Bus Program will play a central role in helping to make zero-emissions school buses the American standard. Nationwide, the 2022 funding cycle is expected to replace approximately 2,500 school buses.

MINA is a year-round, tuition-free North Carolina charter school, based in Sanford and serving students in grades K-to-7. In its third year of operation, MINA has a student population of nearly 500 and utilizes a STREAM (science, technology, reading, engineering, arts and mathematics) curriculum. MINA is currently accepting applications for the 2023-24 school year, which will begin in July 2023 and will include the school’s first class of 8th grade scholars. Click here to learn more.