District installs 360-degree camera system on all 166 school buses and completes driver training

The Building Food Service Champion Committee was told Aug. 19 that the district has installed a Vulcan Series BEV 360-degree camera system on all 166 buses and completed driver training. The update, presented during the transportation item, explained the system uses four cameras to create a panoramic bird’s-eye view and displays a seven-inch monitor to the driver; it triggers an audible beep and a yellow light bar when a pedestrian is detected within about 15 to 18 feet of the bus once the stop arm is extended. The committee was told the system is meant to address the loading and unloading period, which staff identified as the most hazardous. “Loading and unloading is the dangerous time,” said Mr. O'Bare, a district staff member, adding that the system “starts to beep once those kids are in that danger zone, 15 to 18 feet around that bus. And it will continue to beep until they’re out of that danger zone.” Officials said the system also provides a rear backup camera view that drivers previously lacked. “Most people you talk to that have CDLs and big vehicles, they have a backup camera. We didn’t. Now we do,” O'Bare said. Staff said the district trained drivers using a short training video and hands-on verification steps; the trainer verifies driver knowledge by directing a brief backing maneuver while standing outside the bus and confirming the driver used the rear camera. “The training video is about 12 minutes,” O'Bare said. He added that substitute drivers and all regular drivers completed the training. Committee members asked about insurance impacts. Mr. Curtis, a district staff member involved in finance, said any near-term premium changes are unlikely while a pending lawsuit remains unresolved: “Not today. We still have the case that brought this about still hanging over us. And until that’s settled, don’t even ask about premiums.” He and O'Bare said the system should reduce recurring backing-related costs over time; staff estimated prior backing incidents averaged roughly $30,000 a year in direct costs. Committee members praised the rollout and staff training and asked staff to continue documenting use and any maintenance or performance issues as the system is used in daily operations.