Alvin ISD’s board of trustees approved a resolution at its March 17 meeting stating the district does not have the financial capacity to meet state requirements to retrofit or replace school buses without three-point seat belts by September 2029.
Cost to the district
Under Senate Bill 546, passed by the 89th Texas Legislature, all school buses operated by Texas districts must be equipped with three-point seat belts for every rider by Sept. 1, 2029.
With replacement costs estimated at $165,000 per bus, the projected expenses include:
- $627,116 to retrofit 21 International buses, which includes 77-passenger buses and 36-passenger special needs buses
- $12 million to replace 73 Blue Bird buses
After reviewing costs alongside current and projected budget constraints, capital planning obligations and operational priorities, officials determined that replacing all 94 noncompliant buses, at an estimated cost of $12.6 million, would not be feasible by 2029, according to district documents.
What’s next
The district will incorporate compliance-related costs into long-range planning, explore funding sources and grants, and consider phased replacement strategies for progress toward meeting state requirements, according to district documents.
