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District review shows seatbelt/noncompliant buses, estimates $800K to retrofit and $3.1M to replace
Summary
Administration presented a detailed bus inventory and safety assessment that flagged buses by compliance status. The district estimated roughly $800,000 to retrofit certain buses to 3-point seatbelts and about $3,100,000 to replace them; manufacturers currently will not warranty retrofitted seatbelts, per the minutes.
District staff presented a line-by-line inventory of the bus fleet, including year, make, model, VIN, unit number and assigned use. The minutes identify buses flagged for sale before September 2026, buses lacking 3-point seatbelts (yellow/blue) that must be retrofitted or replaced before 2029, and buses that meet the 3-point requirement (green).
The minutes include cost estimates: "It is currently estimated to cost about $800,000 to retrofit buses in yellow and blue with 3 point seatbelts" and "It is currently estimated to cost about $3, 100,000 to replace buses in yellow and blue with new buses." The record also notes that at present none of the three major bus manufacturers will warranty or certify the safety of retrofitted seatbelts, a factor that the Board will need to consider when planning fleet expenditures.
The inventory lists multiple units by year and VIN and designates some vehicles for special education (SPED) service. The presentation was listed as a report-only item; no board action was recorded. The minutes do not specify whether the estimated costs are firm bids or preliminary budgetary calculations, or whether the District has applied for grant or state funding to offset expected retrofit/replacement costs.
