Floresville ISD board adopts resolution saying district cannot meet Senate Bill 546 seat‑belt mandate by 2029

The Floresville ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt a resolution stating that the district’s current budget does not allow full compliance with Senate Bill 546’s requirement that every school bus be equipped with 3‑point lap‑and‑shoulder seat belts by Sept. 1, 2029. The resolution directs the superintendent to develop a bus replacement or retrofit plan and provide annual progress updates as part of the budget process.

During a staff presentation, the district outlined its fleet and the financial challenge. “By the way, FISD owns 49 buses,” said Schroer, who presented the compliance overview and estimated retrofit costs. Schroer told trustees that seven buses already have 3‑point seat belts, six have 2‑point belts and 36 buses have no seat belts; he summarized a vendor estimate from August that retrofitting a single bus would cost just over $33,000 and said current quotes from a supplier have risen by roughly $2,000 per bus since that estimate.

Schroer also warned that major manufacturers may not re‑certify older buses that are retrofitted, potentially forcing districts to replace rather than retrofit older high‑mileage vehicles. He described the work to obtain a single cost estimate and said the district will submit the required reporting to the Texas Education Agency by the reporting close date. Trustees asked about grant funding and potential timelines; Schroer said grant programs are anticipated but amounts and details remain undetermined.

A motion to approve the administration’s recommendation carried by voice vote, 7–0. The adopted resolution includes language affirming the district’s financial inability to meet the mandate by the statutory deadline and requires the superintendent to return with a plan and annual updates for budgeting purposes.