WARRENVILLE, Ill. (April 30, 2011) – The South Shore Charter Public School in Norwell is hosting an event today to celebrate their curriculum based Community Service Learning Projects and Workshops focused on environmental conservation. A portion of this event will be dedicated to the delivery of a new hybrid school bus from IC Bus as part of the school winning the title of “America’s Greenest School”, a contest sponsored by IC Bus last year.

Mrs. Roberts’ 3rd and 4th grade class entry, titled “Ride with Pride!” won their school a new hybrid school bus from IC Bus that will help reduce the school’s carbon footprint. The hybrid school bus, valued at $200,000, is up to 65 percent more fuel efficient than standard school buses and emits up to a third less greenhouse gas emissions.

“Our students’ have worked very hard to be conscientious of the environment. The hybrid school bus presented by IC Bus is a symbol of the student’s dedication to making the world a greener place, starting with their own school,” said Alicia Savage, Executive Director of South Shore Charter Public School.

In addition to the hybrid school bus, the class also won:

• A “green” audit of their school by a LEED accredited professional
• $20,000 to be used for a “green” school makeover
• A $3,000 scholarship to be divided among the class
• $500 for class supplies

In January 2010, IC Bus, the nation’s top school bus manufacturer, kicked off the nationwide contest for the second year. The open call for entries garnered hundreds of quality submissions from around the country. After IC Bus announced 10 finalists last March, online voting determined the winning school, with nearly 1 million total votes cast.

Teacher Sarah Roberts’ class enlisted the help of some of the older students to produce a video entry that showcased South Shore’s top environmental efforts. The two-minute, 30-second video includes reports from around the school on environmental initiatives such as a vegetable oil-fueled van, recycling stations, composting area and their Waste Watchers program that features teams of students who help cut excess energy use.

“Today’s students are making environmental responsibility even more of a priority over previous generations,” said John McKinney, President of IC Bus. “The commitment to going green was evident in all of the entries. It was clear that South Shore Public Charter School used its creativity to get its message across -- and America made a great choice in selecting the school as the winner."

About IC Bus

IC Bus, LLC, of Warrenville, IL, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navistar, Inc. (NYSE: NAV). The nation’s largest integrated manufacturer of school buses, IC Bus is a global leader in passenger protection, chassis design, engines and ergonomics. The company is also a producer of commercial buses. All IC Bus™ brand buses are sold, serviced and supported through a renowned dealer network that offers an integrated customer program encompassing parts, training and service. Additional information is available at icbus.com.