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Board hears cost estimate to retrofit seat belts on older buses; deadline looms
Summary
District staff reported a quoted retrofit cost of about $19,000 per bus and an estimated district total of "300,000 plus" to add seat belts to existing buses; state deadline and an opt-out provision were discussed.
Staff member (speaker 5) informed trustees that new state rules and a related timeline mean the district will need to decide whether to retrofit existing buses with seat belts or rely on an opt-out provision for cost reasons.
"I lose $19,000 per bus to retrofit the ones we have with seat belts," Staff member (speaker 5) said, and added, "We're talking about 300,000 plus is what it would cost us." He said buses ordered going forward will include seat belts, but retrofitting the current fleet is costly. Staff noted a statutory timeline to retrofit by the end of the 2027 school year but said the board may take action to opt out if the expense is prohibitive.
Board members requested additional cost details and timeline clarifications; staff said they already have at least one quote and will return with a recommendation and more precise estimates before the board must decide. No formal action was taken at this meeting, though staff signaled an action or formal recommendation may appear on a future agenda.
