AISD Goes Green

Austin ISD rolls out pioneering plan for fully electric school bus fleet

Although a top concern was children's health, these should save the district money.

Eco-friendly vehicles are hard to say no to. In fact, the entire board of trustees of the Austin Independent School District (AISD) agreed that buses should go completely electric. It voted to convert the district’s entire bus fleet by 2035.

This pioneering move in Texas has already been in place in Boston, New York, and other U.S. districts. Everman Independent School District, near Fort Worth, was first to purchase the electric vehicles, but Austin sets the state record with a total overhaul.

The buses used currently are diesel, which is used in larger vehicles for power and fewer fill-ups. Electric buses, which tend to be more expensive upfront, rely on batteries that need to recharge, like any electric vehicle. However, electric buses have been in increasingly wider use for years, and have demonstrated savings over time through lower operating costs.

The release lays out a time frame to start turning the fleet over, measured by new purchases of electric vehicles:

2023: 25 percent of new school bus purchases
2027: 50 percent of new school bus purchases
2030: 100 percent of new school bus purchases
2035: No more diesel buses remain

In addition to being cheaper and more environmentally friendly, these buses do not expose their riders to exhaust fumes. This was the top concern listed by local officials, including Mayor Steve Adler, who wrote in requesting a commitment to electric vehicles.

“Austin has long been considered a leader on health and environmental issues in the state, and electric school buses offer an opportunity for AISD to take the lead in protecting our environment, economic interests and the health of our school children,” said communications manager of the TexPIRG Education Fund, Shelley Livaudais, in a press release.

The initial call to action asked the district to set aside funds in its proposed bond on the November ballot. It complied, and plans to use funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), among other government programs specifically for schools to access these vehicles. The EPA has a rebate program, and is expected to announce recipients soon.

“We applaud AISD for prioritizing the health of our children and the sustainability of our planet,” said executive director of the Environment Texas Research and Policy Center, Luke Metzger. “By going electric, the motors on the bus will be clean, clean, clean.”

kids education sustainability

SKIN IN THE GAME

Renowned Hill Country tattoo artist inks new sacred geometry app

Photo courtesy of Dillon Forte

Dillion Forte at his "tattoo ranch" in the Texas Hill Country.

In the world of tattooing, there may seem to be few better rat traps left to build, but Dillon Forte aims to change that. In October, the renowned Wimberley-based tattoo artist and entrepreneur introduced a new iPadOS app to bring ancient symbology into the digital age.

Forte has made a worldwide name for his black dot work (a contemporary take on stick-and-poke techniques) and ambitious undertakings like tattooing underwater and opening a “tattoo ranch.” His ink appears on Usher, Chris Hemsworth, and Kehlani.

Still, he is most recognized for his sacred geometry designs, using patterns to convey various meanings. His interest led him to create the Sacred Geometry Drawing App, a convenient way for novices and experts to develop and export their creations.

The app grew out of his own practice. Over the past decade, he has used tablets and freehand techniques to achieve his highly symmetrical artwork but grew to realize existing tools were not always easy to use.

“The app is an attempt and fulfillment of my desire to make sacred geometry accessible and bring the ability to create into the fingertips of as many people as possible,” Forte tells CultureMap via email, adding a tagline: “symmetry made simply.”

He says he wished the app was available when developing his signature style as a tattoo artist, but it was designed with a broad range of users in mind. He hopes that designers, educators, and artists will find a use for it.

A short intro to the app's capabilities is available on YouTube. It looks like a standard drawing app, starting with a blank canvas and some tools like pens, pencils, colors, and of course, straight line and dot makers.

A "symmetry index" anchors the functionality and expands it to something between 2D art and 3D modeling. In addition to generating shapes like repeating patterns and spirals, the app also creates 3D shapes with grids, so that the artist can map their design in real space or even create sculptures. There is also an index for explaining the spiritual meaning of some standard designs.

“Geometry often prompts an intimidating feeling when it comes to making art,” Forte continues. “The fundamentally complex and often academic nature of math-based art can induce a sense of fear in the potential user instead of creating a sense of awe. The purpose of the sacred geometry app is to cultivate the latter."

Creatives interested in constructing their own geometric masterpieces can download the app at the App Store for free, and in-app purchases are available.

technology apps tattoos arts