Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sb546 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Canyon ISD says outfitting older buses with three-point seat belts doesn’t fit budget; board to pursue grants
Summary
Canyon ISD reported 74 buses in its fleet Feb. 9 and estimated $32,000 per bus to install three-point harnesses. Given a current $6 million deficit the board unanimously affirmed that outfitting the 10 older in-service buses (estimated $320,000) does not fit the district’s budget and directed staff to pursue grant funding.
The Canyon ISD Board of Trustees on Feb. 9 recorded staff’s finding that equipping the district’s older buses with three-point seat-belt harnesses does not fit the district’s current budget.
Transportation staff reported the district operates 74 buses in total. Of those, 59 buses already have three-point harnesses and 15 are not equipped; five of those 15 are not operable and will be removed from the fleet, leaving 10 buses that might need retrofitting. Staff provided a vendor estimate of $32,000 per bus, or roughly $320,000 to outfit the 10 buses.
Cameron Rosser, who presented the SB 546 compliance information, told the board the district is projecting roughly a $6 million budget deficit. "The black and white answer to can equipping 10 buses with three-point seat belt harnesses at a total cost of $320,000 fit within the district's budget, the answer is no because we are right now looking at a $6 million deficit," he said.
Trustees pressed staff on alternatives and timing: several of the candidate buses are near end-of-life and five may be auctioned; some repairs to keep buses in service cost thousands more and could change the calculation. Board members also discussed the availability and specificity of prospective TEA or other grants to offset retrofit costs.
The board voted unanimously to approve the administrative recommendation that outfitting currently owned buses with three-point harnesses cannot fit within the district’s current budget, but directed staff to pursue grant opportunities and to return with updated cost and timing information if grant funding becomes available.
What’s next: The district will report SB 546 responses to the state as required and will continue to pursue grants; if grant awards materialize the board retains discretion to revisit outfitting some buses before the next school year.
Sources: Canyon ISD transportation presentation and Feb. 9 board discussion.
