Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Safety Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears proposal to outfit buses with cameras; district weighing Safety Vision bid and Bus Patrol option
Summary
Staff reported RFP responses for bus security cameras and recommended proceeding with a full-fleet Safety Vision installation after proposals came in under budget; Bus Patrol offered a multi-camera enforcement option but required clearer intergovernmental arrangements with law enforcement.
District staff told the DuPage HSD 88 Board on Feb. 3 that an RFP issued in November for bus security cameras drew nine responses, three finalists and demonstrations from vendors. Because proposals came in under budget, staff said they are considering outfitting the full fleet of 40 buses rather than the originally planned 10.
Staff said the lowest-cost quote to outfit 40 buses was from Safety Vision at about $61,152.40. A separate company, Bus Patrol, had approached the district earlier and proposed up to 14 cameras per bus — internal and external — to document stop-arm violations and support enforcement of Illinois stop-arm laws, but that option would require an intergovernmental agreement with local law enforcement. Staff said they have not yet discussed such an agreement with police and noted ambiguity in draft contract language with the vendor; the vendor has been slow to respond to questions.
Board members asked whether interior and exterior cameras provide live footage; staff said the typical systems record and are reviewed after an event, while Bus Patrol indicated it could provide a live feed but that a live option would entail higher costs for wireless connectivity, antennas and ongoing wireless service costs.
Staff recommended moving forward with the Safety Vision proposal while continuing to evaluate Bus Patrol if contractual and law-enforcement arrangements can be clarified.
