JACKSON TWP — The Seneca Valley School District already visually records students on school buses for security and other reasons, but the board Monday night took the first step toward recording student conversations on buses.

District officials began looking into the possibility of recording audio on school buses after the state Legislature last month passed a law allowing the practice.

Jim Pearson, the district’s director of transportation, said at the meeting Monday night the new initiative won’t cost the district any money because the video camera systems currently installed on buses have audio capabilities.

However, the district previously was forced to mute those video recordings being that it wasn’t yet legal to record student conversations. If given final approval, the changes will take place at the start of the next school year.

Superintendent Tracy Vitale said Tuesday the district is committed to protecting students “not just in the classroom but during bus rides as well.”

“It is yet another proactive measure to deter negative behavior or to fact find should there be a report from one of our students,” Vitale said. “Parents and students will be notified before the fall when we expect to turn on the audio.”

Pearson said the district must satisfy three requirements before beginning audio recording.

The first is the passage of a new board policy regulating the audio recordings. The board Monday night approved the first of several readings of the new policy.

The second requirement mandates the district put a warning sign at the front of every bus notifying students they’re being recorded both audibly and visually.

The last requirement mandates the district send letters to parents informing them of the changes.

Pearson also laid out the process of obtaining video or audio evidence from buses in the case of a behavioral or other issue.

He said district officials would first get in touch with a garage manager at A.J. Meyers and Sons, the company Seneca Valley contracts with for bus services.

That manager would then e-mail the file in question, which then could be viewed by school officials as part of their investigation.

Business Manager Lynn Burtner said Monday night the district’s buses have had video cameras for the last five years.

The district split the cost with A.J. Meyers to install the cameras after the district received a state grant to pay for the project.