Gov. Janet Mills (D) announced Tuesday that she will be proposing in the upcoming supplemental budget $4.3 million worth of “enhanced safety measures” for Maine school buses following last year’s two deadly school bus accidents.
If approved by lawmakers, this funding would cover the cost of retrofitting nearly 1,700 buses that are not currently equipped with crossing arms or anti-pinch door sensors.
The governor has also signed an executive order establishing the Maine School Transportation Safety Commission, which will be responsible for reviewing statutes and rules regarding school bus safety and identifying potential improvements.
Serving on this Commission will be representatives of the Maine Department of Education, Department of Public Safety, Department of Transportation, Maine School Safety Center, and local school districts, among others.
The Commission will need to make recommendations to the Governor and Maine State Legislature by April 30 of this year.
“The unimaginable tragedies that occurred last year demand action to ensure that every student in Maine is safe traveling to school,” said Gov. Mills in her statement Tuesday.
“By committing funding to retrofit school buses with enhanced safety measures and creating this commission to study what more can be done, we are taking steps to prevent future tragedies,” she said.
“I look forward to working with the Legislature to approve these funds in the upcoming budget and will welcome the recommendations of the Commission when it completes its work in April,” added Mills.
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“For approximately 80 percent of Maine students, the school day begins and ends with a ride on the school bus,” said Maine Department of Education Commissioner Pender Makin. “These students are entitled to safe, secure transportation to and from school.”
“The Maine Department of Education is deeply committed to ensuring the physical and emotional well-being of all Maine students, whether in the classroom or on their daily journeys to and from the classroom,” Makin said.
“The Maine Department of Public Safety looks forward to working with the Commission on ways to improve safety on school buses for Maine students,” said Maine Department of Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck. “We are committed to developing strategies and solutions to make sure tragedies like those last year are prevented.”
