Counseling services will also be made available for staff and students.
What happened
According to a district news release, a Hays CISD bus carrying 44 Tom Green preschool students and 11 adults was returning from a field trip to the Bastrop Zoo on March 22. Per Texas Department of Public Safety officers, initial investigations show that a concrete truck veered into the bus's lane, hitting it head-on and causing a rollover.
Along with the preschool student, a driver behind the bus was killed and 51 others were injured.
The release stated that the bus involved in the accident was a 2011 model and not equipped with seatbelts. The district began buying buses with seatbelts in 2017, but 40 of the district's 200 buses are older than the 2017 model, meaning they do not have seatbelts, according to the district.
"This will be a topic discussed with the district's Facilities and Bond Oversight Committee in consideration of potentially accelerating the normal Hays CISD bus replacement cycle so that all buses have seatbelts as soon as possible," representatives said in the release.
What you need to know
- School will be canceled on March 25 at Tom Green Elementary.
- The campus will be open from 7 a.m.- 7 p.m. with specialized crisis and trauma counselors for students and staff members.
- Students who need transportation to attend counseling can call the school to coordinate ride services.
- The normal school schedule will resume March 26.
District representatives are still trying to contact the families of nine other students for updates and are also working directly with those who were on the bus to return personal belongings as soon as possible.
Updates will be posted here.
One more thing
A former Tom Green Elementary teacher has set up a Go Fund Me fundraiser to help offset funeral expenses for the student who passed away, as well as other unexpected expenses for the students, staff and families affected.
