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Flatonia ISD to solicit bids to meet SB546 seat-belt requirements for buses
Summary
Following a presentation on SB546, the board authorized staff to begin accepting bids to install three-point harness seat belts or phase out non-compliant buses. Trustees emphasized the action simply seeks bids; no money was approved at the meeting.
The Flatonia ISD Board on April 13 authorized administration to begin soliciting bids to install three-point harness seat belts on existing school buses as the district prepares to comply with SB546.
Safety Director Robin Branecky briefed trustees on the law and the district's status: five buses are fully equipped with three-point harnesses, one bus is partially equipped, and five buses do not have seat belts. The plan discussed was to phase out three of the non-compliant buses over the next few years and retrofit the remaining two if feasible. Trustees voted 6-0 to accept bids to move the project forward.
Superintendent Chris Sodek cautioned the motion does not commit district funds. "The action item is only to receive more bids and not to approve any money amounts at this time," Sodek said. Branecky and administrators said districts have until November 2029 to meet the new standard and that Region 13 assistance produced only one bid so far; the board directed staff to pursue additional bidders and return with cost estimates before any appropriation.
