Board to buy safety features for school buses by Scott Rogers - posted Wednesday, February 28th, 2007 @ 9:16 pm  E-mail Story |  Print Story  The Ouachita Parish School Board has agreed to spend $48,000 to install better mirrors and guard arms on 83 school buses to make them safer. Board members took action during Wednesday's regular meeting following a recommendation from Skeeter Boyd, transportation supervisor for the school system. Two weeks ago, a 5-year-old Downsville boy was killed when the driver of his school bus - who did not know he was still in front of the vehicle - accelerated and struck him. Some have said that safety features such as better mirrors and guard rails might have prevented the tragedy. Boyd said many older model school buses have mirrors that are considered unsafe because drivers cannot always see students when they cross in front of the bus. Buses designed by 2006 now have mirrors that show the children as they pass in front of the school bus. Rep. Mike Walsworth plans to introduce legislation in April when the Legislature convenes its regular session that calls for the state to pay for guard rails on all buses. Superintendent Dr. Bob Webber said school board wants to go ahead and purchase these safety features now. If Walsworth's legislation passes, the school board could then seek reimbursement for the guard arms. Boyd also mentioned that a man approached him during lunch this week and hinted that he would provide funding for these safety features. "I was at lunch, and he came up to me and asked, 'Skeeter, how many mirrors and cross arms do you need?' I told him, and he said, 'We're going to take care of it.' He didn't want his name mentioned, but I'm sure the board would be interested in hearing about this," Boyd said. "He said he wanted the numbers, the amount and he wanted Richie (Garrett, business manager for the school board) to set up a separate account." The school system hopes by this summer it can have guard arms installed on every elementary school bus that doesn't already have one. Board member Jerry Hicks said elementary buses should get the safety features first since those students are smaller and it is more difficult for drivers to see them when they pass in front of the bus. "We're going to equip them all eventually, but the priority right now needs to be elementary first. The reason for this is because when an elementary child walks in front of that bus, you can't always see them," Hicks said. After the safety features are placed on the elementary school buses, the board will work to install the same items on high school buses, Boyd said.