A local insurance agent has offered to help improve student safety in the Wabash Unit School District 348.
During Monday night’s school board meeting, State Farm agent Dan Schonert addressed the board and offered to make a financial donation to help the district purchase cameras for school buses. Schonert said the idea came after a near-miss incident involving his own grandchildren, when a vehicle drove past a stopped school bus as children were getting off.
Schonert told the board he has spoken with several district bus drivers and noted that stop-arm violations continue to occur, even with warning lights activated. He said onboard cameras could act as an added deterrent and provide clearer evidence when violations happen.
Schonert offered an initial $2,500 donation from his local State Farm agency. He also explained that through State Farm’s Good Neighbor Grant matching program, the company would match that amount for auto safety-related projects — potentially providing a total of $5,000 toward the purchase of bus cameras.
Schonert emphasized the offer was made to support student safety and said the decision on whether to move forward rests with the school district. The board took the offer under advisement.