During the meeting’s public-comment period on Aug. 21, residents pressed Deerfield Public Schools District 109 for clarity about the district’s school‑bus contract with Olson Bus Company and about seat‑belt protections on buses.

Kimberly Laughlin, a lifelong district resident who identified herself as a child-passenger-safety technician (with a school-bus endorsement), said a state bill that initially sought a 2027 start date and seat‑belt usage requirements was weakened before final enactment; she said the final law, signed this month, set a later compliance date (she said 2031) and removed a required usage policy. Laughlin asked the district to confirm whether the Olson contract includes an open provision allowing retrofits (the district had previously negotiated an "electric bus" provision) or whether Olson is no longer contractually required to support seat-belt installation.

Laughlin told the board she had been told by district staff that Olson historically had challenges sending replacement buses with lap belts when vehicles broke down and that Olson prefers not to supply buses with belts. She said the district’s May–June contract discussions had removed seat-belt language and asked the board to confirm the contract terms. At the meeting she requested confirmation whether the Olson contract includes an open provision for retrofits or a requirement to supply seat-belt–equipped buses in the future.

Her son, Riley Laughlin, a Shepherd Middle School student, addressed the board as well and said he has been in two bus crashes (one in downtown Deerfield) and urged the district not to weaken safety. He and his mother also raised concerns that Olson subcontracted a motorcoach on another district trip without verifying the subcontractor’s driver credentials.

Kimberly Laughlin said Olson recently bought Thomas Built buses (which the speaker said were more expensive) and that another manufacturer, Bluebird, now installs lap-and-shoulder belts as standard at no extra charge; she asked whether the district can require seat belts when replacing or adding buses. The speaker said she had submitted a legal analysis to the district that day and asked for a response.

The board acknowledged the comments and thanked the speakers; the administration did not provide a definitive contract interpretation during the meeting. Board members and staff said they would follow up and that they had received communications from the speaker on this issue.