BROOKFIELD — The Brookfield Local School District has taken a significant step toward improving student safety with the installation of new stop arm cameras on district buses, funded by a $6,321 grant received earlier this school year.

The cameras, which are mounted on the front of each bus beneath the stop sign arm, are designed to capture vehicles that illegally pass stopped school buses, a dangerous and all too common occurrence in the district.

According to Transportation Director Meghan Zachery, these violations happen at least three times per week on at least one bus. They occur when drivers fail to stop while a bus is loading or unloading students, putting children at serious risk.

“With the frequency of these violations, it became clear we needed an additional layer of protection,” Zachery said. “These cameras not only serve as a deterrent, but also provide critical evidence if a violation occurs.”

The grant, awarded at the beginning of the school year, allowed the district to purchase and install the cameras across its bus fleet. The cameras are now fully installed and operational, helping to monitor and document violations in real time.

Zachery emphasized that student safety is always the district’s top priority and hopes the new technology will encourage drivers to be more cautious around school buses.

“This is about keeping our kids safe,” she said. “We want drivers to understand how serious this is and to always stop when a bus has its lights flashing and stop arm extended.”