Board members say three-point seat belts on buses would cost more than $50 million; plan to seek legislative funding

Board members discussed the feasibility of installing three-point seat belts on every district bus, saying the cost would exceed $50 million and that the district lacks the funds to pay for that work immediately. A board member said the district reviewed legal obligations and concluded it was not practical to adopt seat belts on every bus without outside funding.

The board member said, "it's 50 plus million dollars to get that done ultimately, and it's just not feasibly practical," and described plans to work toward legislation next year to secure funding for transportation. Another board member noted that buses remain "very safe transportation in general" and cautioned that procuring new buses can have long lead times: "you have to wait for a year for a bus."

Why it matters: The discussion balances student-safety upgrades against an identified funding gap. Board members framed the issue as a statewide funding question rather than one the district can fully absorb without outside help.

Details: The speakers said the district examined requirements "from the agency or in the law" but did not name a specific statute or rule. They framed the $50-plus-million figure as an overall program cost estimate rather than a line-item contract. The board directed staff to pursue legislative solutions next year to close the transportation funding gap and signaled the issue will return for further discussion.

Next steps: Board members said staff will follow up on legislative options and return to the board with more detail next month.