RESOLUTION NO. RS2016-482

A resolution requesting the Metropolitan Board of Public Education to require all buses purchased for purposes of serving Metropolitan Nashville Public School students to be equipped with seatbelts.

WHEREAS, on November 21, 2016, the nation mourned the devastating loss of six (6) elementary school children -- Keonte Wilson, Cor'Dayja Jones, Zyaira Mateen, D'Myunn Brown, Zoie Nash, and Zyanna Harris – who were killed in a tragic school bus accident in Chattanooga, Tennessee while traveling in a school bus; and

WHEREAS, according to the Tennessee Department of Education, fewer than one in five of Tennessee’s approximately 9,000 school buses had safety restraints as of the 2014-2015 school year -- the most recent data available; and

WHEREAS, Tennessee Code Annotated §55-9-602 does not currently require the use or installation of seat belts within school buses. However, in the aftermath of the unspeakable tragedy in Chattanooga, members of the Tennessee General Assembly are again considering introduction of legislation that would require retrofitting every school bus within the state of Tennessee with seatbelts; and

WHEREAS, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belts have been proven to be the single most effective safety device to prevent serious injury resulting from an automobile accident; and

WHEREAS, in 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration endorsed three-point seat belts on buses for the first time; and

WHEREAS, despite the absence of current federal or state requirements for seatbelt equipment within school buses, states and school districts may nevertheless purchase school buses equipped with seat belts; and

WHEREAS, the Metro Nashville Public Schools may operate school buses for up to seventeen (17) years before mandatory replacement; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council go on record as requesting that the Metropolitan Board of Public Education require all buses nearing mandatory replacement age, or otherwise requiring replacement, to be replaced with buses equipped with seatbelts.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting that the Metropolitan Board of Public Education require that all buses nearing mandatory replacement age, or otherwise requiring replacement, be replaced with buses equipped with seatbelts.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a certified copy of this Resolution to each member of the Metropolitan Board of Public Education and to Mr. Shawn Joseph, Director of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools.

Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Karen Johnson, Edward Kindall, Brenda Haywood

AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
RESOLUTION NO. RS2016-482

Mr. President –

I move to amend Resolution No. RS2016-482 as follows:

I. By deleting in its entirety the eighth and final “Whereas” recital which begins “WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that…”, and substituting the following in lieu thereof:

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council go on record as requesting that the Metropolitan Board of Public Education consider replacing those buses nearing mandatory replacement age, or otherwise requiring replacement, with buses equipped with seatbelts.

II. By deleting Section 1 in its entirety and substituting the following in lieu thereof:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting that the Metropolitan Board of Public Education consider replacing those buses nearing mandatory replacement age, or otherwise requiring replacement, with buses equipped with seatbelts.

Sponsored by: Russ Pulley, Karen Johnson