North Nodaway to add two propane buses

By Geoffrey Woehlk | June 8, 2026 |

SKYE POURNAZARI/THE FORUM
North Nodaway High School/Junior High

HOPKINS, Mo. — North Nodaway will add two propane buses to its fleet next year after the school board approved the purchases on May 20.

During its regular meeting on that date, the board approved the $144,189 purchase of two 2027 Blue Bird Vision 71 propane passenger buses with four cameras from Central State Bus in Fenton, Missouri, along with the $25,000 purchase of a propane filling station.

Earlier this year, the district was awarded a $125,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the purchases. The grant program, authorized by the state legislature, specifically funds the purchase of propane school buses as a cleaner alternative to diesel-fueled buses and provides $50,000 per bus and up to $25,000 for associated fueling infrastructure.

Superintendent Chris Turpin told The Forum that propane buses are becoming a more popular alternative to electric buses. Electric buses, he said, have had some issues in rural areas and are much more expensive. Propane, on the other hand, is cheaper than diesel and has no trouble in cold weather, he said.

Turpin said propane buses get about two-thirds to three-fourths of the miles-per-gallon that diesel buses do. The district has a contract to purchase propane at 98 cents a gallon, he said, and will utilize the federal alternative fuel tax credit to knock that price down another 37 cents per gallon to reach a total of only 61 cents per gallon. Maryville R-II, for example, approved a diesel fuel contract last month with prices above $4.50 per gallon.

“I think this is a great opportunity for our district,” Turpin said, noting that he was proud North Nodaway will be the first district in the county to add propane buses to its fleet.

Turpin, who sometimes drives school bus routes for his district, said he was able to drive a propane school bus during a visit to Hannibal Public School District No. 60 earlier this year. Turpin made the trip to talk with staff there about their fleet of 10 propane buses. He said the bus handled pretty much the same but was quieter.

When the buses arrive at North Nodaway, Turpin said they’ll be used for daily routes rather than trips since propane refueling stations aren’t a guarantee on road trips. The $25,000 from the grant will be used to install a refueling station at the school.

Turpin said Central State Bus has estimated the buses will be delivered sometime in September or October.

Other North Nodaway notes

The final reading and approval of the following handbooks were made for the 2026-2027 school year: elementary, personnel, middle school and high school, athletic, A+ and transportation.
The concrete bid at the elementary for sidewalk repairs in the amount of $10,800 from Bryson Allen was approved.
The ACES agreement and the Head Start agreement for the 2026-2027 school year were approved as presented. Board member Vicki Riley abstained from voting on the Head Start agreement.
The summer work projects were approved.

Personnel

Resignations