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GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT MCMANUS, DR.

[*This meeting was joined in progress*]

[00:00:02]

WRIGHT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

MY NAME IS NICOLE BLAKELY, BUT THE KIDS ON MY BUS KNOW ME AS MISS BLUE.

[D. PUBLIC FORUM]

I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR HAYS ISD SINCE 2020, AND I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF TRANSPORTATION, SINCE WE ALL COULDN'T MAKE IT TO THIS MEETING.

I WANT TO START OFF BY GIVING MY CONDOLENCES TO THOSE AFFECTED BY THE ACCIDENT THAT HAPPENED ON MARCH 22ND.

WE HAVE ALL WATCHED VIDEOS AND TRAINED TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES TO ADDRESS SCHOOL BUS ACCIDENTS WITH STUDENTS ON BOARD, BUT NOTHING REALLY PREPARES YOU UNTIL IT HAPPENS IN YOUR OWN DISTRICT. I SAW A LOT OF BLAME AND ANGER BEING THROWN AWAY, THROWN AROUND ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, AND IT WAS REALLY EYE OPENING.

SO I'D LIKE TO SHARE THE PERSPECTIVE OF A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER TO HELP THE COMMUNITY AND THE DISTRICT GOING FORWARD.

THE FIRST THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE THE BIGGEST TOPIC I'VE SEEN HAYS ISD BE SCRUTINIZED FOR, AND THAT'S THE SEATBELTS.

LET ME PAINT YOU A PICTURE.

YOU ARE OPERATING A VEHICLE THREE, MAYBE FOUR TIMES BIGGER THAN YOUR PERSONAL VEHICLE WITH 65 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ON BOARD.

RAGING OR RANGING FROM VARIOUS AGES.

AND YOU HAVE YOUR PRE-K AND YOUR KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS RIGHT UP FRONT IN THE FIRST FOUR SEATS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE NEWEST TO RIDING A BUS, AND THEY NEED THE MOST SUPERVISION.

THEY ARE IN SEATBELTS BECAUSE YOU YOURSELF SEATBELT THEM IN.

YOU CALL OVER THE INTERCOM, ALL RIGHT, KIDS, FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS.

WE'RE LEAVING AND YOU HEAR VARIOUS CLICKS.

YOU'RE GOLDEN. RIGHT.

EVERYONE SAFELY SECURE AND YOU'RE READY TO ROLL.

YOU'RE DRIVING 40MPH.

YOU LOOK UP IN YOUR PASSENGER MIRROR AND WATCH AS ONE OF YOUR KIDS JUMPS FROM ONE SEAT ACROSS THE AISLE.

BUT I TOLD THEM TO BUTTON UP.

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO ENSURE THAT 55 PLUS STUDENTS WHO BARELY LISTEN TO YOU FOR THE 15 TO 30 MINUTES THEY'RE ON YOUR BUS, PUT THEIR SEATBELTS ON AND KEEP THEM IN THERE UNTIL I GET TO THEIR STOP. THE NUMBER OF TIMES I AM TOLD I DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO YOU, YOU ARE NOT MY MOM IN A DAY TO DAY BASIS WOULD ABSOLUTELY ASTONISH YOU.

IN A HORRIBLE HYPOTHETICAL LET'S SAY I HAVE TO PULL OVER BECAUSE MY BUS STARTS SMOKING.

THIS COULD MEAN A NUMBER OF THINGS, BUT MY TRAINING TELLS ME THAT I NEED TO PULL OVER AND EVACUATE THE BUS.

NOW, HOW QUICKLY DO YOU THINK MY BUS COULD GO UP IN FLAMES IF SOMETHING DID HAPPEN? IF YOU GUESSED TWO MINUTES, YOU'D BE CORRECT.

TWO MINUTES.

HOW MANY STUDENTS DO YOU THINK I COULD GET SAFELY OFF THE BUS IN TWO MINUTES? LITTLE BABIES UP FRONT.

THEY NEED MY HELP BECAUSE THEY'RE PANICKING AND CRYING.

DO YOU THINK I CAN GET ALL OF THEM OUT IN TWO MINUTES? NOT TO MENTION, I HAVE 26 SEATS AND ONE SEATBELT CUTTER.

I CAN'T POSSIBLY CUT ALL THE SEATBELTS IN TWO MINUTES, CAN YOU? THE SECOND THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS SAFETY DRILLS.

HOW MANY OF Y'ALL REMEMBER JUMPING OUT THE BACK OF YOUR SCHOOL BUSSES AT YOUR SAFETY DRILLS? BECAUSE I REALLY REMEMBER DOING THAT, AND IT WAS LIKE A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN MY IN MY YOUTH.

THE DISTRICT STOPPED DOING THESE A FEW YEARS AGO, AND WE FEEL LIKE IT'S TIME THAT WE BRING IT BACK.

AT THESE DRILLS THEY CAN TEACH KIDS HOW TO PUT THEIR SEATBELTS ON AND HOW TO TAKE THEM OFF IN AN EMERGENCY.

THEY CAN TEACH WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE KIDS TO STAY SEATED AND HOW TO ESCAPE FROM THE BUS IF IT BECOMES NECESSARY.

ANOTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS ACCOUNTABILITY.

IF MAKING OUR CHILDREN WEAR SEATBELTS BECOMES THE POLICY, WHERE WILL THE DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS TO HELP ENFORCE THAT COME FROM AND WHAT WILL THEY LOOK LIKE? BECAUSE AS IT STANDS NOW, THERE'S BARELY ANY DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AVAILABLE FOR OUR CHILDREN WHO FAIL TO USE OUR CURRENT SAFETY MEASURE, WHICH IS SMART TECH.

WRITE UPS AND PHONE CALLS HAVE NOT STOPPED CHILDREN REFUSING TO BRING THEIR TAGS.

SO WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE THEM WEAR THE SEATBELTS? I AM ONE PERSON IN CHARGE OF OF OF THE SAFETY OF OVER 150 STUDENTS AND I CAN'T DO IT ALONE.

AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONITORS FOR EVERY BUS.

WE REALLY DON'T.

BUT IT STARTS AT HOME.

WE AS A COMMUNITY HAVE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE FUTURE OF THIS COMMUNITY.

AND I GET WANTING TO BLAME SOMEBODY.

I GET THAT YOU'RE ANGRY BUT WE'RE ANGRY TOO.

BUT BLAMING THE PEOPLE YOU'VE ENTRUSTED ALL ALONG TO GET YOUR KIDS TO AND FROM SCHOOL SAFELY ISN'T GOING TO CHANGE OR HELP THE CHANGE THAT WE NEED.

WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER.

WE HAVE BRAND NEW BUSSES ON THE ROAD.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS ALREADY VOTED INTO EFFECT LAST YEAR.

WE HAVE DEDICATED BUS DRIVERS THAT SHOW UP EVERY DAY BECAUSE WE LOVE YOUR KIDS LIKE OUR OWN.

AND NOW WE NEED THE SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE PARENTS THAT PUT THEIR KIDS ON OUR BUSSES EVERY MORNING.

BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES TAKE A VILLAGE, Y'ALL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MRS. PETREA IF ANYTHING WERE TO CHANGE, JUST LET ME KNOW.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE ON NOW TO OUR ACTION ITEM.

[E.1. Discussion and Possible Action regarding the Hays CISD Bus Fleet Seatbelt Plan]

TEAM, WE ARE ON E1 THAT IS ON IN YOUR ON YOUR AGENDA.

THIS IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE HAYS CISD BUS FLEET SEATBELT PLAN.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS WHO ARE GOING TO COME FORWARD AND DISCUSS THIS PLAN WITH US.

[00:05:01]

SO COME ON, COME ON DOWN.

MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT, DR.

WRIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HERE IN THE AUDIENCE AND FOLKS THAT WILL BE ONLINE WHEN WE GET THIS VIDEO POSTED.

I'M TIM SAVOY, THE CHIEF COMMUNICATION OFFICER, AND I'M HERE TO KIND OF PRESENT THIS BECAUSE I, I CORRALLED THE INFORMATION AND PUT IT IN THE PLAN, BUT IT'S NOT A PLAN THAT I WROTE.

IT'S A PLAN THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS.

WITH A LOT OF FOLKS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS REALLY PULLING SOME, PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS AT THE MAX CLEAVER, CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER HERE, AND THEN CASSANDRA [INAUDIBLE] SHE'S OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION.

WHO'S WHO'S BEEN PULLING NUMBERS ON ALL OF THIS? WE WE'VE HEARD THE COMMUNITY IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CRASH AND THE CONCERNS REGARDING SEATBELTS ON THE BUSSES.

AND SO THIS IS TO ADDRESS THE PLAN THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE TO PHASE IN THE SEATBELTS.

THIS PLAN REALLY ADDRESSES KIND OF WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO ACCELERATE THAT.

THAT PLAN AND I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME GIVING OUR TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES GOING THROUGH ALL OF THIS, BUT I WILL TELL YOU, IT IS AVAILABLE ONLINE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.

THE GOAL HERE WOULD BE TO GET OUR FLEET TO FULL FULLY, TO BE FULLY EQUIPPED WITH SEATBELTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME ITEMS IN HERE THAT WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD INDIVIDUALLY REGARDING PURCHASING.

WE HAVE IDENTIFIED POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES, AND I THINK THAT WHILE THE ITEMS BY THEMSELVES ARE EXPENSIVE RELATIVE TO WHAT WE LOOK AT IN TERMS OF GROWTH AND NEW ADDITIONS WITH OUR DISTRICT, IT'S NOT THE FUNDING THAT'S GOING TO BE THE ISSUE FOR US IS GOING TO BE SIMPLY THE TIME IT TAKES FOR A BUS TO BE BUILT.

THAT'S GOING TO BE THE THING THAT WOULD SLOW US DOWN THE MOST.

AND SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'LL THE MEASURE ALSO IS NOT GOING TO GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW MANY BUSSES DOES IT HAVE WITHOUT SEATBELTS.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE OUR MEASURE, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE'RE ADDING MORE BUSSES, THEN WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE THE BUSSES WITHOUT SEATBELTS ON THE LOT, IF YOU WILL.

WE WILL DECOMMISSION THOSE.

SO REALLY THE MEASURES WILL BE HOW MANY BUSSES DO WE HAVE WITHOUT SEATBELTS THAT WE USE IN A GIVEN TIME.

AND SO I KIND OF STARTED OUT JUST OVERALL AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, WE HAD 109 OF OUR SPECIAL ED ROUTES, BY THE WAY, HAVE SEATBELTS THAT'S BEEN REQUIRED ON THE SPECIAL ED BUSSES FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT WE DO HAVE 109 ROUTES.

AND OF THOSE ROUTES, 15 DID NOT HAVE BUSSES WITH SEATBELTS.

AND THEN IN OUR SUPPORT BUS, WE'LL CALL THAT RESERVED BUS FLEET.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A MISNOMER BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY USE ON ANY GIVEN DAY 40 BUSSES, AND [INAUDIBLE] WE HAD 87 THERE WITHOUT SEATBELTS.

IT'S A LITTLE HIGH ON THE NUMBER.

THAT WE NORMALLY WOULD PROBABLY NEED BECAUSE DURING THE PANDEMIC WE HAD STOPPED OFFLOADING BUSSES AND AUCTIONING THEM OUT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO GET PARTS AND THAT KIND OF THING. AND SO SO WE CAN PROBABLY DECOMMISSION A LOT OF THOSE BUSSES AND THEY MAY NOT ALL BE SUBJECT TO NEEDING TO BE REPLACED.

THAT'S WHERE WE WERE, WHERE WE WANT TO BE AT THE END OF THIS PROCESS NEXT YEAR, WE WANT TO INCREASE OUR BUS ROUTE TO ABOUT 115 FROM 109, BECAUSE WE'RE ADDING PUBLIC ELEMENTARY THAT WILL COME ONLINE IN AUGUST.

AND THEN WE WANT TO HAVE 80 SUPPORT BUSSES WITH SEATBELTS THAT'S GOING TO COVER OUR 40 THAT WE USE ON ANY GIVEN DAY.

AND THEN HAVE ENOUGH FOR PEAK TIMES THAT WE HAVE THOSE BUSSES USED.

SO THE GOOD NEWS, THE PHASE ONE IS GOING TO BE THAT'S IN PROCESS RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S ACTUALLY ALREADY HAPPENING.

WE HAVE 21 BUSSES THAT WE RECEIVED THAT ARE BEING PROCESSED IN, AND THEY ARE GETTING THEIR DECALS, AND MOST OF THEM ARE PROBABLY ALREADY IN SERVICE, BUT NO LATER THAN THE END OF THIS MONTH IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, IF IT'S NOT SOONER THAN THAT, EVERY ONE OF OUR ROUTE BUSSES WILL HAVE SEAT BELTS, AND THESE ROUTE BUSSES ARE THE BUSSES THAT TAKE THE KIDS TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY AND BACK.

AND I WILL SAY THAT THE BUS WAS IN AN ACCIDENT.

WAS THE REGULAR ROUTE BUS FOR TOM GREEN.

THE TRIP WAS DESIGNED THAT THE FIELD TRIP WOULD RETURN TO SCHOOL IN TIME TO LET THE THE KIDS FROM THE FIELD TRIP GO BACK INTO THE BUILDING, AND IT WOULD BE THERE TO THEN RUN THE REGULAR ROUTE BUS, THE FIELD TRIP FOR FIELD TRIPS.

OUR FIRST CHOICE IS ALWAYS THE ROUTE BUS, BUT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE.

[00:10:04]

[INAUDIBLE] BUT I KNOW SOME SPEAKERS TALKED ABOUT HAVING A POLICY AND A PRIORITIZING A RISK BASED.

THAT'S A THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE IN IN ADDITION TO THIS PLAN.

BUT TO HAVE TO HAVE THAT, I'M NOT THE EXPERT ON THAT, BUT WE CAN HAVE FOLKS ASSESS THAT.

BUT WE WILL HAVE EVERY ONE OF OUR BUSSES BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, IF NOT SOONER COVERED.

WE WILL THEN ALSO HAVE SIX RESERVE BUSSES WITH SEAT BELTS.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE WHOLE REST OF THE PLAN FOR CLOSING THAT GAP FROM THE 6 TO 80 OR SO THAT WE NEED.

SO THE PHASE TWO IS ALSO ALREADY IN PROGRESS.

AND THAT IS A THERE WERE EIGHT OTHER BUSSES.

I THINK THEY WERE ACTUALLY COMING IN WITH THE 21 OR MAYBE IN ADDITION TOO.

SO THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THEY I SAY IN THE PLAN HERE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE A DELIVERY DATE, BUT THEY'RE THEY'RE GOING TO BE COMING IN PRETTY MUCH RIGHT AWAY.

SO THAT'S EIGHT MORE BUSSES.

AND THEN WE HAVE SEVEN THAT WE ORDERED IN AUGUST 2023 THAT ARE THE 2024 MODELS, AND WE WILL HOPE TO GET THOSE BY AUGUST.

SO FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, THAT'LL BE ANOTHER SEVEN.

WHEN THAT PHASE IS DONE, WE'LL HAVE WE'LL HAVE ALL OF US STILL COVERED AROUND BUSSES.

WE'LL HAVE 21 RESERVED BUSSES AND THE RETROFITTING THIS COMPONENT THREE WE'RE LOOKING AT RETROFITTING THE 13 BUSSES.

WE HAVE NINE 2017 MODELS.

WE HAVE FOUR 2016 MODELS.

WE CAN RETROFIT THEM BECAUSE WE THINK IT'S GOING TO BE FASTER AND THEY STILL HAVE ENOUGH SERVICE YEARS AND MILEAGE LEFT INTO THEM THAT IT WOULD BE IT WOULD BE WORTH THE INVESTMENT. WE HAVE TWO 2013 BUSSES COULD BE RETROFITTED, BUT THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT IN MUCH CONDITION TO BE IN SERVICE MUCH LONGER ANYWAY, SO IT'S PROBABLY A BETTER INVESTMENT TO TAKE THE MONEY THE THE $35,000 OR SO THAT ACTUALLY HAS A DIFFERENT FIGURE ON IT TO TAKE THOSE TO TAKE THAT MONEY AND PUT IT TOWARD A NEW BUS.

ALL OF THE BUSSES THAT ARE 2011 AND OLDER CAN BE RETROFITTED ONLY IF YOU REMOVE ALL OF THE SEATS AND THE ENTIRE FLOOR OF THE BUS TO REINFORCE IT TO HOLD THE SEATBELTS.

NOT ONLY IS THAT GOING TO BE PROBABLY ALMOST AS EXPENSIVE AS A NEW BUS, IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALMOST THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME.

SO BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK PROBABLY TO THE [INAUDIBLE].

WE'RE BASICALLY LOOKING AT NOT TRYING TO RETROFIT.

NUMBER FOUR WOULD BE ACCELERATING THE PURCHASE OF OUR 2025 $2.5 MILLION OR SO FROM THE BOND THAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.

WE'RE RECOMMENDING HERE THAT YOU WOULD TAKE BOND INTEREST MONEY OR THE SURPLUS CONTINGENCY MONEY THAT WAS UNSPENT ON PROJECTS THAT CAME IN UNDER BUDGET, AND PUT THAT TOGETHER FOR ABOUT $4.8 MILLION TO NOT ONLY ORDER WELL, I GUESS THAT WOULD ORDER ABOUT 30 BUSSES IN A BATCH.

ONCE YOU PUT THAT IN PLACE, YOU'D BE UP TO 64 IN THE RESERVE FLEET, AND THAT WOULD THEN THAT WOULD GET US THE DAILY 40 THAT WE USE, PLUS AN EXTRA.

THEN WHEN WE GET TO PLANNING HERE PRETTY SOON FOR MAY 2025 BOND ELECTION, THAT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE INCLUDED BUSSES.

ANYWAY IF YOU HAVE A LARGER DISCUSSION AT THE BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, WHAT DO WE WANT? DO WE NEED 80 OR DO WE NEED 90? DO WE WANT TO LOOK AT OTHER VEHICLES LIKE BUSSES SO THAT WE CAN CARRY EQUIPMENT? BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY.

I KNOW A LOT OF THE BIG BAND INSTRUMENTS ARE IN THE TRAILERS AND STUFF, BUT YOU DON'T WANT ANY EXTRA STUFF IN THE CABIN OF THE BUS IN THE EVENT OF ANOTHER ROLLOVER.

SO THOSE BUSSES WOULD HAVE STORAGE.

ALSO, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THINGS LIKE THE COACH BUSSES THAT WE RENT FOR OUR GENERALLY FOOTBALL AND ATHLETICS AND BANDS THAT HAVE LARGE TEAMS THAT TRAVEL, YOU KNOW, THOSE KIND OF GREYHOUND LOOKING BUSSES WE RENT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET I DON'T THINK A LOT OF THOSE BUSSES COME WITH SEATBELTS.

I DON'T THINK THEY'RE DESIGNED IN THERE.

SO THAT'S ONE ONE COMPONENT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT.

AND IF THEY'RE NOT AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY SAY IN WHAT YOU RENT AS TO WHICH BUS YOU GET, THAT COULD BE SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK AT, PERHAPS IN A BOND.

YES. THESE ITEMS ARE EXPENSIVE.

WE ARE FORTUNATE AS A PASTORAL DISTRICT THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT BONDS, AND WE HAVE THE BUSINESSES AND THE GROWTH COMING IN THAT CAN SUPPORT THAT.

AND SO AGAIN, RELATIVE TO WHAT WE SPEND ON GROWTH AND SAFETY AND SECURITY, WE CAN HANDLE THIS AS A DISTRICT.

YOU CAN'T SAY THAT FOR OTHER SMALL DISTRICTS THAT AREN'T.

THAT'S PROBABLY A CONVERSATION FOR ANOTHER DAY.

IT ISN'T THE EXPENSE, BUT WE IDENTIFIED FUNDING SOURCES.

THAT'S GONNA BE OUR CHALLENGE.

OUR CHALLENGE IS THE FACT THAT RIGHT NOW, IT'S TAKING ABOUT A YEAR TO GET [COUGHING].

AND SO WITH THAT THAT WOULD BRING US THAT WOULD BRING US TO THE FULL FLEET AT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW, TIME FRAME.

BUT THAT MEANS WE STILL WILL HAVE SOME BUSSES.

WE'LL HAVE FEWER OF THEM AS TIME GOES ON, BUT WE WILL STILL HAVE BUSSES UNTIL WE CAN GET THOSE NEW BUSSES DELIVERED WITH THAT, THEY WON'T HAVE THE SEATBELTS.

[00:15:06]

AND ALSO WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT TWO.

THAT IS A KEY THING THAT ONCE, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE GET THROUGH A PLAN HERE, THE NEXT SORT OF PHASE WOULD BE A PRETTY HEAVILY I DON'T KNOW, THE MARKETING IS NOT THE RIGHT WORD, BUT WE'D HAVE A BIG CAMPAIGN TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO WEAR THE SEATBELTS, BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE THE OTHER COMPONENT.

SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE SEATBELTS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE MORE SEATBELT CUTTERS ON THERE.

WE DON'T KNOW IF THE SEATBELT WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS ACCIDENT.

WE WILL KNOW THAT BY HOPE, BECAUSE WE ARE VERY, VERY THANKFUL THAT THE NTSB IS WELL, THEY'RE NOT DOING A FULL INVESTIGATION.

THEY ARE TAKING INFORMATION FROM THIS CRASH AND THEY'RE GOING TO FOLD IT INTO INVESTIGATIONS THEY'RE CONDUCTING IN OTHER STATES THAT ARE TWO BUS WRECKS THAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST 3 OR 4 WEEKS THAT WERE THAT WERE FATAL ACCIDENTS.

THEY ARE DOING FULL INVESTIGATIONS ON.

AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF YOU MAY KNOW THE NTSB FROM AIRPLANE ACCIDENTS.

THEY INVESTIGATE THOSE. THEY'RE VERY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE INFORMATION ON THIS BUS CRASH GET FOLDED IN THERE, BECAUSE THERE'S STILL A BIG DEBATE OUT THERE.

AND IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP THROUGH THE LAST 10 OR 13 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE IN THE PAST, ABOUT WHETHER SEATBELTS CAN BE DANGEROUS ON BUSSES, IN SITUATIONS WHERE THERE IS A FIRE OR THERE'S A BUS CRASH THAT GOES IN THE WATER.

I THINK THAT THE DATA IS SHOWING MORE AND MORE THAT A SEATBELT, PROBABLY MORE LIKELY THAN NOT, IS MORE SAFE ON A BUS, EVEN WITH THE DESIGN, THE COMPARTMENTALIZATION OF THE CRASH FORCES.

BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION THAT WILL ACTUALLY BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BENEFIT KIDS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

TEXAS IS A MOOT ARGUMENT FOR US.

OUR LAW SAYS THE BUSSES PURCHASED AFTER 2017 WILL HAVE SEATBELTS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

THERE ARE 42 STATES THAT DON'T HAVE THE LAWS ON THE SEATBELTS.

AND MAYBE SOMETHING OUT OF OUR CRASH CAN CAN MAKE A CONTRIBUTION THAT WILL HELP MAKE BUSSES SAFER, NOT JUST HERE IN WHAT WE CAN DO, YOU KNOW, BUT BUT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

WE'VE DONE WE'VE BEEN DOING WHAT IS REQUIRED OF US.

AND I THINK AT THIS POINT, IF THERE'S A CHANCE THAT WHAT IS REQUIRED MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ENOUGH, THEN I THINK THERE'S NOTHING STOPPING US FROM DOING MORE THAN IS REQUIRED.

AND THAT IS WHY WE SUBMIT THIS PLAN TO ACCELERATE THE THE OUTFITTING OF ALL OF OUR SCHOOL BUSSES WITH SEATBELTS AND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU TO OUR TEAM FOR PUTTING THIS PLAN TOGETHER.

I KNOW MANY, MANY HOURS OF HARD WORK WENT INTO THIS, AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORT OF THAT.

BEFORE WE GET TO OUR MOTION I BELIEVE DR.

WRIGHT HAD SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY? YES. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE TEAM THAT PUT THIS PLAN TOGETHER AS WELL.

VERY THOUGHTFUL. AND YOU GUYS DID YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND AND FOR THAT, I'M VERY THANKFUL.

ALSO WANTED TO TO THANK THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY DURING THIS, THIS TRAGEDY.

A LOT OF TIMES YOU DON'T GET TO SEE AS, AS A COMMUNITY, THE HEROICS THAT HAPPENED BEHIND THE SCENES.

AND, AND I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW YOUR TRUSTEES ARE HERE FOR YOU.

AND I GOT A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM THE STAFF AT TOM GREEN, FROM THE BUS DRIVERS FAMILY, FROM FAMILIES THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE WRECK ITSELF.

SPEAKING ABOUT HOW OUR BOARD MEMBERS STEPPED UP, THEY GIVE THEM A HUG WHEN THEY NEEDED A HUG.

THEY WERE THERE TO SHOW THEM AROUND THE BUILDING.

THEY WERE THERE TO SERVE THE TEACHERS AND THE STAFF FOOD.

THEY WERE THERE TO SERVE FOOD AND BE A SHOULDER TO CRY ON WITH OUR WITH OUR EXECUTIVE CABINET.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT IT AS A, AS A TEAM OF EIGHT ALL THE TIME, THAT ACTIONS ALWAYS MEAN SO MUCH MORE THAN WORDS.

AND SO WE CAN SAY ALL DIFFERENT THINGS.

BUT BY HAVING PEOPLE ACTUALLY STEP UP AND WALK, THE WALK MEANS SO MUCH TO ME AS A SUPERINTENDENT.

AND, AND SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD APPRECIATE HOW YOU'RE ALWAYS THERE TO CARE ABOUT OUR KIDS FIRST, CARE ABOUT OUR STAFF AND CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST DOING WHAT'S REQUIRED, BUT WE'RE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO THE BEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THANK YOU, DR. WRIGHT. THE SUGGESTED MOTION IS THAT THE HAYS CISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES AUTHORIZE THE ADMINISTRATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NEXT STEPS TO

[00:20:02]

IMPLEMENT THE PLAN AS PRESENTED, AND TO RETURN TO THE BOARD AT A FUTURE MEETING FOR FUNDING APPROVAL.

MOVED BY MRS. OROSCO, SECONDED BY MISS RUNKLE.

ANY DISCUSSION? I HAVE A STATEMENT I WOULD LIKE TO READ.

AS A BOARD, WE WANT TO SHARE OUR COLLECTIVE THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS.

MARCH 22ND WAS A TRAGIC AND TERRIBLE DAY FOR HAYS CISD.

I KNOW WE ARE STILL HURTING AND REELING FROM THIS DISASTER, AND THE HEALING WILL CONTINUE FOR SOME TIME.

THE FAMILIES OF ULISES RODRIGUEZ MONTOYA, AND RYAN WALLACE ARE IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AS WELL AS EVERYONE IMPACTED BY THIS TRAGEDY.

THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN CONTROL AND THINGS WE CANNOT CONTROL, BUT WE HAVE NOT BEEN SURPRISED BY THE OUTPOURING OF THE SUPPORT FROM THIS AMAZING COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.

OUR BOARD WOULD LIKE TO ESPECIALLY THANK THE WITNESSES WHO CAME RUNNING, THE FIRST RESPONDERS FROM MULTIPLE AGENCIES, THE HOSPITAL STAFF THAT CARED FOR OUR STUDENTS AND ADULTS, DISTRICT EMPLOYEES WHO RACED TO THE SCENE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE BUS DRIVER AND EDUCATORS ON THE BUS THAT DAY.

IT'S HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS HOW APPRECIATIVE WE ARE FOR THEIR HEROIC EFFORTS.

THANKFULLY, BASTROP ISD CHIEF OF POLICE SCOTT LYNCH DID A GREAT JOB.

I'D LIKE TO READ AN EXCERPT FROM A LETTER HE SENT TO DR.

WRIGHT. WHEN I ARRIVED AMID THE CHAOS THAT ENGULFED THE SCENE, I FIRST NOTICED THAT HAYS ISD TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO HAD BEEN ON THE BUS ALL WERE VISIBLY INJURED, SOME SERIOUSLY BATTERED, BLOODIED AND BRUISED, YET THEY WERE PRESENT AND VISIBLE TO THE CHILDREN.

IT WAS OBVIOUS FROM WATCHING THEM THAT TAKING CARE OF THE CHILDREN WAS THEIR ONLY PRIORITY.

THEY WERE NOT JUST STUDENTS TO THEM, THEY WERE THEIR CHILDREN TOO.

THEY WERE THE CALM DURING THE STORM.

THEY WERE COMFORTING, CARING, COMPASSIONATE, REASSURING AND LOVING TO EACH CHILD.

AT NO TIME DID ANY OF THEM ASK FOR ANYTHING FOR THEMSELVES, ONLY FOR THE CHILDREN.

DESPITE THE NECESSITY AT TIMES OF BEING PULLED BY FIRST RESPONDERS TO HELP WITH VARIOUS ISSUES, THEY IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO THE CHILDREN.

AS A FATHER AND GRANDFATHER, IF I COULD NOT BE WITH MY BABIES IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, I WOULD WANT THESE TEACHERS AND STAFF TO BE WITH THEM BECAUSE I KNOW THEY WOULD CARE FOR THEM JUST AS I WOULD.

FURTHERMORE, YOUR CHIEF OF SAFETY AND SECURITY OFFICER, JERI SKROCKI, SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR HER ACTIONS.

SHE IMMEDIATELY HAD A COMMAND PRESENCE FOR HAYS CISD, AND WAS CLEAR FROM THE START THAT SHE HAD A SINGULAR FOCUS OF MAKING SURE THE PARENTS KNEW THE LOCATION AND CONDITION OF THEIR CHILDREN. HER POISE, PROFESSIONALISM, AND LEADERSHIP IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS TRAGIC EVENT WAS EVIDENT.

AS A FIRST RESPONDER, I OFTEN GET THANKED FOR MY SERVICE AND THANKED FOR ASSISTING IN TRAGIC EVENTS.

BUT THE HEROES THAT DAY WERE YOUR TEACHERS AND STAFF.

THEY NOT ONLY WERE DOING THEIR JOBS, BUT THEY WERE ALSO DOING WHAT CAME NATURALLY TO THEM TO LOVE AND COMFORT THE CHILDREN UNTIL THEY COULD BE REUNITED WITH THEIR PARENTS. SO, TEAM, WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

WE'VE HAD DISCUSSION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? OUR MOTION CARRIES 7-0.

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.

THIS CONCLUDES OUR 4:30 SPECIAL MEETING AT 7:08 P.M..

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.