School district working to install cameras on buses

Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano told school board members work is in progress for the Mercer Island School District to install cameras on the stop arms of school buses.

To do so, Plano said the district would need the City Council to approve a local ordinance that would allow the installation of cameras.

“We have been becoming very concerned over time about the number of cars speeding by buses while their stop arms are out,” said Dean Mack, school district CFO. “It used to be there were just a few of those a year. Now we’re experiencing a few of those each and every day.”

Mack said instances across the country where bus cameras have been used showed to effectively lower the amount of illegal passing incidents.

The district would plan to install cameras on four or five school buses, with those buses rotating on routes experiencing violation problems.

The school board and City Council are expected to discuss the issue at a joint meeting on April 7.

Elementary bell times set for next year

Elementary bell times will begin at 9:15 a.m. each morning for the 2016-17 school year and will end at 3:45 p.m. every day except Wednesday, when school will release early at 2:05 p.m.

Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano said the change represents a school day beginning five minutes later and being 10 minutes longer.

The 9:15 a.m. elementary start will also provide a 30-minute difference with the Mercer Island High School start time on its late-start Wednesdays, when the high school will begin class at 8:45 a.m.