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Facilities staff say retrofitting CROSBY ISD buses for SB 546 would cost about $1.2M; full replacement estimated $5.4M–$6.1M
Summary
Facilities staff told trustees the state'mandated three-point seat-belt rule would cost roughly $1.2 million to retrofit the route fleet (or $5.4M–$6.1M to replace the fleet); staff flagged liability, certification and operational impacts and said special-education buses already have belts.
District facilities staff presented the data required by Senate Bill 546, which mandates three-point seat belts on school buses, and outlined the district's options and cost estimates.
Mr. Mitchell said the district's route/trip fleet has 39 buses; three of the newest vehicles already have three-point belts and all 10 special-education buses are already equipped. He presented three cost scenarios: in-house retrofitting of 25 newer buses would cost about $464,311 and retrofitting 11 older buses (which require floor replacement) would cost about $770,000, for a total retrofit estimate of roughly $1.2 million. Contracting the work to vendors raises the cost for the newer buses (to roughly $839,000) and would add outside certification and labor charges. Replacing the entire route/trip fleet with new buses at current market prices was estimated at $5.4 million to $6.1 million.
Trustees and staff discussed operational trade-offs: in-house retrofitting could save money but would increase workload for mechanics, require new tools and training and could leave the district liable if retrofits malfunction; vendor work shifts certification and liability away from the district but can be more expensive and remove buses from rotation during retrofitting. Staff said the state is collecting data and may announce grant opportunities; a compliance date noted in the presentation is Sept. 1, 2029.
Why it matters: The mandate poses potential capital and operating costs, complicates fleet maintenance and could have safety and staffing implications, particularly for younger students who may need assistance with belts.
What's next: Staff will continue to monitor state guidance and grant announcements, refine cost estimates and present options to the board as more information (and bids/quotes) becomes available.
