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Tatum ISD trustees vote that district budget cannot fund seat‑belt retrofits or new buses
Summary
At its March 2 meeting the Tatum ISD Board unanimously approved an administration recommendation that the district’s budget does not support purchasing buses with three‑point seat belts or retrofitting older buses to meet SB 546 requirements.
Dr. J.P. Richardson presented the administration's recommendation that, in light of the cost estimates presented earlier, the district's current budget cannot support buying new buses with three‑point seat belts or retrofitting older buses. Mr. Dennis Williams moved to approve the administration recommendation; Mr. Stephen Skinner seconded. The motion passed 6-0, formally recording the district's determination.
The Board relied on the cost estimates given by School Services Coordinator Todd Andrews during the superintendent's report: estimated retrofit cost of about $39,806 per bus (roughly $732,870.04 for the fleet) and an estimated $2,863,000 to purchase new buses outfitted with three‑point belts. The action documents the district’s fiscal position on SB 546 compliance while preserving future options should funding sources change.
