Seventeen new school buses will soon hit the streets of Athens.

Athens City Schools board members voted unanimously Thursday night to purchase the vehicles as part of the Alabama Department of Education’s fleet renewal program.

The 17 Blue Bird buses will replace 17 older buses the city district operates currently. The old buses will be sold.

Aside from being newer, Athens Superintendent Trey Holladay said the buses also feature six additional seats, which will serve to alleviate current overcrowding on school buses. Also the annual payment the district will make on the new buses will be cheaper than its current payment, the superintendent said.

Athens City Schools accepted a financing offer from Regions Bank for $1,480,139, to be paid over 120 months at an interest rate of 2.55 percent. Annual payments from the school board will equal $169,556.09. Board member Tim Green abstained from the vote to accept the financing, citing his employment with Regions.

Other business

Elsewhere Thursday, the board:

• Recognized students who scored 30 or higher on the ACT;

• Transferred Scott Sutton from principal at Athens Elementary to a temporary administrative position working with the district’s incarceration program;

• Approved the school calendar for the 2017-18 school year;

• Approved a contract with Lathan Associates Architects for Brookhill Elementary School (this project will renovate the heating and cooling system), with a projected budget of roughly $1.4 million;

• Approved the 2017 curriculum catalog for Athens Middle and Athens High schools;

• Approved the following bids for new lunchroom equipment for new Athens High School — Birmingham Restaurant Supply, serving line and milk box ($40,750); Vicro Inc. for lunchroom tables ($22,924.44); Dixie Store Fixtures for walk-in freezer/cooler combination ($55,300);

• Approved contract with Elba City Board of Education to include the district in the Athens virtual school;

• Approved a contract between Ming Commercial Real Estate Group concerning land the school district owns on Dexter Street;

• Approved amendment of online educational services agreement; and

• Approved online educational services agreement with Pinnacle.