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Tyler ISD board hears $1.8 million retrofit estimate as state seeks three-point seat belts on buses
Summary
District staff told the Tyler ISD board that 48 of 121 buses lack three-point hookups and estimated about $39,000 per bus to retrofit (roughly $1.8 million); administration will recommend whether to retrofit or phase compliance through its 15-year replacement cycle at the April meeting.
Tyler ISD administrators briefed trustees on a recent amendment to Senate Bill 546 that requires school buses be equipped with three-point harnesses, saying the district currently has 121 buses and 48 that lack the required hookups.
Jeff Milsagel, director of safety and security, told the board the district's mechanics and vendors compiled retrofit cost estimates and that "it's like $1.8 million to retrofit all of our 48 buses that don't have uh three-point hookups." He and other staff said the district has been buying new buses with three-point hookups since 2018 and is in reasonable shape compared with many districts because of a 15-year replacement plan that began in 2017.
Board members asked how quickly Tyler ISD could comply. Administration said the planned replacement cycle (about five buses purchased some years) would bring the district into compliance over time; retrofitting would accelerate that timeline but carries costs and potential warranty issues. Staff told trustees that the per-bus retrofit estimate is roughly $39,000 and that some manufacturers are reluctant to perform aftermarket installs because of liability and warranty concerns.
The presentation also flagged a discrepancy between figures discussed in the meeting and the agenda: administrators said a $1.8 million retrofit estimate based on 48 buses, while the agenda lists approximately $1.2 million tied to the district's scheduled new-bus purchases. District leaders said the $1.2 million figure on the agenda reflects planned purchases, not the retrofit estimate, and that the board will consider a formal action item next month.
In discussing funding options, staff said the agency responsible for school oversight (TEA) is collecting district data and that state funding is not yet tied to the requirement; the district will pursue any available TEA grant opportunities and consider paying for compliance through future replacement purchases if a dedicated transportation appropriation is not created.
What happens next: administrators will return with a formal recommendation and a specific funding proposal at the April board meeting, at which trustees may vote on whether to retrofit existing buses, accelerate purchases, apply for grants, or rely solely on replacement cycle purchases.
