Little Elm ISD finds immediate full compliance with SB 546 not feasible; board directs phased replacement/retrofit plan

District transportation staff presented the board with the district's analysis of Senate Bill 546 (89th Texas Legislature), which requires three-point (lap-shoulder) seat belts on all school buses. The presentation included fleet counts, vehicle model years and two cost scenarios.

According to the presentation, Little Elm ISD operates 72 buses total: 55 regular-education buses and 17 special-education buses. The district reported 35 buses without three-point seat belts and 37 already equipped with three-point belts. Staff estimated the approximate cost to purchase a new bus equipped with three-point seat belts at about $160,000 per bus (total ≈ $5.6 million for 35 buses). A retrofit option was estimated at approximately $29,911.86 per bus for the 35 buses (total ≈ $1,046,915.10). Staff noted retrofit costs are charged to the General Fund, while purchasing new buses is an allowable bond expense; the presentation also showed most of the buses needing replacement are over ten years old and that meeting TEA deadlines would require purchasing about 12 buses per year.

Trustee Ken Beber moved to approve the administrative report and the board voted unanimously (7-0) that it is not feasible, in consideration of the district's budget and student needs, to equip the entire fleet immediately and directed the superintendent or designee to develop a phased, fiscally responsible replacement/retrofit plan. The motion was recorded in the minutes and will satisfy the public-meeting determination required under SB 546.