Northwest ISD starts school year with new buses with seatbelts

 The Northwest ISD is starting its school year with a new fleet of school buses.

The buses all come with seat belts, which the district hopes will help keep students safer.

The superintendent held a Facebook Live meeting on Thursday to answer questions from parents.

Dozens of parents, like Carrie Ann Jones, tuned into the Facebook Live segment. The superintendent of Northwest ISD was live to talk about the district's new buses. In accordance to a state law which went into effect last year, the busses must have seatbelts for every child.

“As a parent, I've always wanted seatbelts on the bus,” Jones said.

The district spent just over $20 million on 240 buses to equip them with shoulder harness belts. The law made seat belts mandatory on any new buses a district would purchase.

“We made a commercial for parents to watch,” said Emily Conklin with Northwest ISD. “So that way, the students know what to expect. It's just like they would get in the car on their way to the grocery store. They buckle it up the same way."

Three months ago, a school bus from Northwest ISD overturned along FM 407 in Denton County. Eighteen students were on board. Seven of them were taken to a hospital with minor injuries. The bus did not have seatbelts.

"We are focusing on safety in the classroom and also to and from school,” Conklin said.

The buses also have overhead racks where kids can show their stuff. Aisles are clear in case they have to evacuate.

But driver George Starks likes the seat belt feature best of all.

"I'll always keep an eye on them,” he said. “But they stay in their seats, and I don't have to say sit down. This, that and the other. And I can concentrate on more driving."

The district owns the buses so it saves tax dollars.

Parents say it's more about the peace of mind.