By the time school starts on Aug. 28, all 159 McKinney ISD school buses will have air conditioning and upgraded security cameras.
MISD worked with Durham Transportation, the district's bus service provider, to begin upgrading the buses with air conditioners in spring 2016. The final phase is scheduled to be complete before the first day of school.
McKinney ISD buses have been updated with air conditioners and new security cameras.[/caption]
Durham and MISD also replaced the interior security camera on each bus with additional cameras above the passenger seats at the front and middle of the bus, according to a press release from MISD. Durham also installed DriveCams, which record the driver's activity.
When MISD's contract with Durham was up in 2016, the district negotiated a new contract to include air conditioning and additional cameras on the buses, Cody Cunningham, MISD's Chief Communications and Support Services Officer, said in the release.
Prior to installing air conditioners in 2016, 46 MISD buses had air conditioning. Typically drivers in Texas begin using their air conditioning in May and use it until late October, Durham Director Pete Chancellor said in the release.
"Ultimately, we want students on our buses to arrive at school safely and walk into the building ready to learn," Cunningham said in the release. "Additional safety cameras and air conditioning can have a positive impact on both of those goals."