WORLAND — Washakie County School School District No. 1 Board members approved placing outboard cameras on the district’s school buses at its Wednesday meeting.

The decisions is the result of legislation passed during the 2014 Wyoming legislative session. The legislation was in response to a Fremont County girl who was struck and killed by a passing motorist while getting off a school bus, Wyoming Department of Education Communications Director Kari Eakins said.

Eakins said that the cameras will help authorities prosecute those who pass stopped school buses.

WCSD No. 1 Business Manager Jack Stott said footage from the last 30 days will be available for collection. The cameras will be able to get the license plate numbers of motorists who pass stopped school buses.

The cameras will cost the school district $29,000.

The State of Wyoming will reimburse the school district upon installation.

WCSD No. 1 Superintendent David Nicholas said he supports the policy because it protects children.

“Anything we can do to keep our students safe, I support,” Nicholas said.

Eakins said there is an annual one-day count of how many drivers see “fly bys” or cars passing stopped school buses. During the 2011 – 2012 year, the one-day count was 297.

The annual one-day count for the 2014 – 2015 school year was 99 violators, Eakins said.

“That’s the lowest number since the count began in the 1999 – 2000 school year,” Eakins said.

Eakins said more information needs to be made available before determining if the decline is due to the cameras being installed.

“It’s a nice thought, but it’s too early to jump to conclusions,” Eakins said.

So far, 31 of 48 Wyoming school districts have installed the cameras.

The board also discussed the district’s employee drug testing policy, but did not make any changes.

Currently, only bus drivers are randomly drug tested because their jobs directly affect student safety and because it is a Department of Transportation requirement.

Other district staff are subject to testing if there is a reasonable suspicion that staff are coming onto district property under the influence.

Nicholas said the reason for the test has to be made in writing so that the policy is not abused.