San Angelo ISD to report possible shortfall on SB 546 bus retrofit deadline

San Angelo ISD’s transportation director told trustees on April 13 the district will report to the Texas Education Agency that it may not meet the Senate Bill 546 bus retrofit deadline for all vehicles by Sept. 1, 2029.

Mister Livingston said the district currently has 42 buses that do not have three‑point harnesses and that arriving and ordered buses will reduce that number but leave roughly two dozen vehicles to phase out over multiple budget cycles. "We have 42 that we have currently that do not have 3 point restraints," he said, adding that recently ordered buses and those purchased earlier this year will bring many daily routes into compliance once delivered.

He told trustees the district plans to pace purchases across the next three budget seasons to make steady progress and said staff will report current numbers to TEA and continue to pursue grant possibilities from the legislature. Livingston noted new buses purchased since 2018 include three‑point harnesses and that once the six buses approved in February arrive, most home‑to‑school routes will have daily buses equipped with three‑point restraints.

Trustees discussed options including accelerating purchases if funding permits and tracking potential state grant opportunities; staff emphasized procurement and budgeting constraints will determine the pace of replacements. No formal vote occurred at the pre‑agenda meeting; the item will remain on the agenda for further discussion and possible action at future meetings.