Sumner County Bus Proposal

CHANGE IN SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION COULD BE COMING FOR STUDENTS IN ONE LOCAL COUNTY

SEAT BELTS "AND" AIR CONDITIONING MAY BE ADDED TO SUMNER COUNTY SCHOOL BUSES.

TONIGHT.. THE QUESTION IS.. HOW DOES THE COUNTY PAY FOR IT?

THE CHANGES COULD COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS

IT'S AN ISSUE THAT IS OFTEN DISCUSSED...BUT RARELY MAKES ANY HEADWAY.

NOW, THE PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL IS TAKING ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS IN TRYING TO GET SEAT BELTS ON COUNTY SCHOOL BUSES.

Portland City Councilman Mike Callis says, "We're not telling anybody what to do, we're just asking them to take a look at it."

SEVERAL PARENTS BROUGHT THE ISSUE TO THE ATTENTION OF PORTLAND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

NOW IT SEEMS...THEY'RE NOT ALONE.

Portland High School parent Roger Williams says, "We have to wear seatbelts in our vehicles so I think they should on a bus."

Portland High School parent Michelle Hurt says, "The bus drivers will tell the children to sit down and I mean, children don't tend to listen very well. If they have to put on their brakes in a hurry, there goes a child flying."

ANOTHER CONCERN... HOT WEATHER.

THE COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION LAST WEEK...REQUESTING AIR CONDITIONERS BE INSTALLED ON ALL 190 COUNTY SCHOOL BUSES AS WELL.

Erika Kurree: "But adding air conditioning and seat belts to school busses is something the school system can't afford right off hand. It's going to cost in the millions of dollars."

IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT WOULD TAKE YEARS TO IMPLEMENT-- IF PASSED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.

IT WOULD REQUIRE YEARS OF RESEARCH AND PLANNING...FOR AN IDEA THAT'S NOT GUARANTEED TO BE THE SAFEST.

Sumner County Schools Communication Director Steve Doremus says, "You don't want to have unintended consequences by putting seatbelts on the school bus and you may actually make a situation that's not terribly bad right now worse."

WHICHEVER WAY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION GOES, THERE IS LITTLE PROMISE FOR STATE OR FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PROJECTS LIKE THESE.

SO SOME THINK IF TAXPAYERS WANT IT, THEY'LL HAVE TO MAKE IT A PRIORITY.

Councilman Mike Callis says, "It may be something that the county or state may put as a referendum to let the citizens vote and decide whether or not they want an increase to pay for this."

SINCE BOTH RESOLUTIONS PASSED, A COPY OF EACH HAS BEEN SENT TO THE SUMNER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

SUMNER COUNTY SCHOOLS HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THEIR COPY FOR CONSIDERATIONSumner County Bus Proposal