The sun is just beginning to rise over the farm fields of the Herscher school district, 70 miles southwest of Chicago, but the youngest passengers on Bus 24 are already buzzing with excitement. The second, third and fourth graders climb aboard right on schedule many decked out in holiday sweaters and clamor for permission to sing Christmas carols.
When bus driver Chris Hadley reminds them that they’re just days from their winter vacation, they respond with resounding cheers. But the children reserve some of their greatest enthusiasm for a less obvious crowd-pleaser: What, Hadley asks, do they think of their new electric school bus? “I love it!” “I looove it!” “Brilliant!”
