Lead mechanic's state grant funds stop-arm and interior bus cameras; district reports fewer violations and higher prosecution rates

The New Prague Area Schools transportation department installed a new fleet-wide bus camera system after winning a $140,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety in summer 2022. The grant funded stop-arm cameras, exterior cameras and four interior cameras per bus, officials said.

Craig, who leads the district's transportation operations, credited lead mechanic Tim Dvorak with writing the grant application and with leading the installation work alongside mechanic Andrew Biesek. Craig said the district paid no external installation costs because the mechanics installed the systems themselves.

Craig showed board members video excerpts of stop-arm violations captured by the new system and said the footage allowed law enforcement to identify license plates and pursue prosecutions that would not have been possible with the district's older, less reliable equipment. He said prosecution and conviction rates for stop-arm violations have increased and estimated that stop-arm violations have declined “by 40 to 50% across the board,” a district estimate attributed to Craig.

The cameras upload footage when buses return to the garage and connect to district Wi-Fi overnight; staff said principals and law enforcement can access footage remotely. Craig said the cameras also improved conduct on buses and freed drivers to focus on driving instead of managing on-bus incidents.

The district reported local media coverage of the program and said the system can be transferred from buses scheduled for retirement to new buses, and that any future camera purchases would be funded from the Safe Schools Fund.

No new board action was required; the presentation was given as a spotlight on success.