In response to a tragic bus accident earlier this year, Hays CISD has launched a comprehensive plan to ensure all school buses are equipped with seat belts. The series of measures, approved by the school board on Monday, aims to address the concerns raised after a school bus collision in Bastrop County that led to the deaths of two individuals and left others injured, as noted by KVUE.
The district's "seatbelt is our buddy" campaign complements this plan, encouraging students to buckle up for safety. Hays CISD's Transportation Department is responsible for the safe transport of 11,000 students daily, as reported by CBS Austin.
Tim Savoy, the district's chief communication officer, mirrored the campaign's sentiment, "We're going to have to emphasize to the kids that you have to wear them, and we're probably going to need the help from parents to help us reinforce that," as stated by KVUE.
The financial investment in this initiative is considerable, with around $4.8 million earmarked for accelerating the purchase of new buses equipped with seat belts, an effort supported by the 2023 bond funds and surplus bond money, per KVUE. Additionally, the retrofitting of older buses, though expensive, is on the table for specific models—though for some, replacing rather than retrofitting is the recommended approach.
