Seriously—who steals from school buses? On the fifth day of school, an entire district hit the brakes after thieves ripped catalytic converters off the fleet overnight. It’s more than a headache; it’s a budget crater. Replacements, downtime, tow fees—those bills will land where they always do: on taxpayers and kids who lose classroom time.

The twist? This same district reportedly secured a major EPA grant to replace aging gas/diesel buses with electric models. Is that lifeline still on the table—or tangled in red tape now that the fleet is crippled?

There are fixes. Track sales at the buyer end: no converter purchases without airtight proof of ownership and serial traceability. Create a victim reimbursement fund fueled by stiff fines on illegal sellers and buyers. And for a one-off disruption? Fire up remote class for a day. Education shouldn’t be held hostage by a handful of metal thieves.

Maybe this was profit. Maybe it was a prank. Either way, it’s a wake-up call. This is how a first-world system frays—not with a bang, but with a parts invoice.