H-W keeping students safe with dash cams, seat belts

HOWARD-WINNESHIEK - Transportation Director Brian Swestka reported on requirement of seat belts, installation of dash cams and routing software at the How-Winn School Board meeting of Sept. 16.

~ Swestka began by thanking the board on approving routing software that was purchased last year. It is a much more user-friendly program than the previous one. He later gave an example, explaining the new software allows him to give a student two addresses (for both parents).

~ He noted, “We put cameras in our buses and in and outside our buildings.” He suggested purchasing six Samsara dash cameras for $16,560 for a three-year upfront cost. The cameras would be front and rear-facing and include audio. The footage is stored on the cloud, which is what makes them so expensive. 

The board voted to purchase the cameras that will be placed in the three vans, Pacifica and two suburbans. “I didn’t opt to put one in the superintendent’s vehicle,” he joked. 

The cameras will have speed alerts, face recognition, distracted driving notification and more.

~ Swestka said a new Iowa law requires all new buses to have seat belts for students. Knowing the requirement was probably coming down the pike, the district’s last two bus purchases included seat belts, which was an increase in price of between $5,000 and $6,000.

“We have them on two routes, and it is second nature for the kids to wear them, Swestka said.

~ Another change in laws allows the maximum number of minutes a student can be on the bus to be 75 minutes for both elementary and high school students. The old limit was 60 minutes for elementary and 75 for older kids. 

Swestka was not suggesting to add time to the routes, but changing the limit by board action for “just in case.”

~ A weird loop-hole in the wording of how many seats a van can hold can be beneficial to the district. A 10-passenger vehicle is the most a district can purchase new, but a 12-passenger van can be purchased used. “A used passenger van is in the mid-$20,000 range, which is about the same as a suburban,” Swestka informed the board.

• In other business, Gena McCaffrey of the Success Program explained the benefits of the Edmentum software that allows various online classes to students.

For usage, there are 348 active enrollments at How-Winn. It helps with advanced studies, dropout prevention, ACT and ITED preparations, homebound and suspended students, summer school classes and more.

• Supt. Ted Ihns updated the board on various items. “The current enrollment is 1,021 with certified enrollment deadline of Oct. 15. That is down from last year.”

The superintendent stated during the last audit, the district was told it should be getting financial reports from its community associations, including CHS Choir Boosters, Crestwood PTO, Band Boosters and All Sports Booster Club.

Courtney Shimek of All Sports Booster Club presented the financial report in person.

• The 2019-2020 Gifted and Talented Plan and 2019-2020 K-12 LAU Plan for Serving English Learners were both approved.

The next board meeting will be Oct. 21 at NICC-Cresco Center.