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El Campo ISD approves purchase of a new bus and discusses seat‑belt retrofit timeline
Summary
Trustees approved acquiring a new bus not to exceed $60,000 and discussed seat‑belt retrofits: staff said TEA grant awards will determine which buses can be retrofitted and the district has until 2029 to complete retrofits; fleet size noted as about 29 vehicles, with 18 used on routes.
The El Campo Independent School District Board of Trustees authorized the purchase of a new school bus not to exceed $60,000 and reviewed the district’s progress on seat‑belt retrofits.
Board members said the district had not purchased a bus in several years and that replacing aging units was necessary to avoid service interruptions. Trustees indicated a preference for buses manufactured by Thomas because local service and repairs make them easier to maintain than other brands, and noted the selected models include air conditioning and seat belts.
The motion to purchase the bus was moved by James and seconded by Clayton; the board approved the purchase by voice/hand vote.
In a related discussion, staff reported they have inventoried district buses and submitted a list to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to determine grant funding for seat‑belt retrofits. Staff said some buses can be retrofitted while others cannot; the district has until 2029 to complete required retrofits under state timelines. The board reviewed fleet counts (about 29 district vehicles, with 18 used for regular routes and several vans and suburban‑type vehicles used for trips) and discussed summer routing and more economical vehicle assignments.
No additional personnel actions or funding reallocations were recorded at the meeting; staff said they will wait for TEA grant awards before making retrofit purchases.
