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Trustees hear plan and timeline for SB 546 seatbelt compliance on buses; district expects grant support
Summary
Edgewood ISD staff briefed trustees on Senate Bill 546 reporting and the district's current three-point seatbelt-equipped buses; staff said compliance deadline is Sept. 1, 2029, and grant funds may be available beginning in June to help retrofits or replacements.
Edgewood ISD transportation and operations staff updated the board on requirements tied to Senate Bill 546 and the district's readiness to meet seatbelt reporting and equipment requirements.
Elvis Williams, Assistant Superintendent of Operations, and transportation staff member Pina said the district currently has five buses equipped with three-point seatbelts that are prioritized for Pre-K, kindergarten and first-grade students and other students requiring specific restraints. Trustees asked whether board policy requires students to use seatbelts; staff said there is no current board policy requiring use and suggested the student handbook could address usage rules. Pina said buses manufactured after 2018 already include three-point seatbelts and the compliance deadline is September 1, 2029.
Trustees discussed whether it would be cheaper to retrofit existing buses or replace them, and staff said recommendations and cost analyses would return to the board once the district determines funding options. Superintendent Eduardo Hernandez said the district expects grant funds to begin arriving in June to support compliance. Staff said the district will operate buses in compliance by the deadline and bring retrofit/replacement recommendations back to the board for action.
