School Bus Safety Week 2007
Around the Nation

What Were You Doing During School Bus Safety Week?

School Bus Safety Week was Oct. 21-27. The following is a look at a few of the happenings around the country.

First Student’s BusBee teaches kids to always be careful around the school bus.

BusBee, the School Bus Safety Bee
In Jacksonville, Fla., First Student introduced BusBee to children at Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary School and Arlington Elementary. BusBee is a safety mascot that teaches kids that when they’re around the bus, ABC stands for “Always Be Careful.”

District officials rode to the events on a school bus and demonstrated the “Danger Zone.” At one event, officials even ran a practice evacuation of a student in a wheelchair.

Across the county, officials distributed 30,000 handouts, 10,000 coloring books, tote bags and other safety material sponsored by Rivers Bus Sales, Navistar International and Operation Lifesaver, according to Cherrie Beardsley, the coordinator of the events.

Admins Saddle Up
T. Mark Hagewood, transportation director for Pinellas County Schools in St. Petersburg, Fla., used School Bus Safety Week to remind the administration just how hard a school bus driver’s job is by, challenging the staff to a miniature roadeo.

With a crowd of 50 watching, the superintendent, deputy superintendent, director of human resources, principal and members of the risk management department competed to see who could best maneuver through a serpentine course, properly stop at a railroad crossing and perform other critical driving skills.

In the weeks before the competition, the training department helped the would-be drivers familiarize themselves with the school bus. It wasn’t the course that Florida’s school bus drivers contend with — Hagewood spared these novice contenders the backing events — but it helped the staff understand what it means to safely drive students.

“The superintendant is still talking about it at meetings because it gave him a different perspective of school bus drivers,” Hagewood said. “He even got choked up at the last board meeting we went to, because he said he’s disciplined school bus drivers for doing things, and now he looks at it a little bit differently.”

Of course, the regular drivers’ received more than just recognition. The week before the Roadeo, Pinellas honored drivers who had gone more than 10 years without an accident, including one driver who had 34 accident-free years behind the wheel.

Who Says TV isn’t Good for kids?
To help spread the word about School Bus Safety Week, the Rochester Area Transportation Supervisor’s Association turned to the television. This year, the regional association in New York placed public service announcements reminding drivers to be aware of children around the school bus on cable access channels, on the local NBC affiliate’s high-definition channel and on arrival/departure screens at the Greater Rochester International Airport.

The PSA, which included real school bus drivers and real student passengers, was created in 2005 by the local NBC affiliate with the support of local school bus vendors. An attendant and former local CBS anchor even did the voiceovers.

If Peter Lawrence, an RSTA member and the transportation director for Fairport Central School District, can get funding from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, he said he’d like to work with local businesses to place messages on scrolling LED screens and on placemats at the Burger Kings and McDonalds in town.

Southern Love
In Saginaw, Texas, mechanics at Durham School Services thanked their drivers the proper Southern way: with brisket, hamburgers, hot dogs and greens.

During a barbecue hosted by the mechanics, office staff and district officials got together to thank the drivers. It also gave the mechanics an opportunity to explain to the drivers just what it takes to keep their buses running.

For the drivers, it was important to see they are a part of a team that includes the mechanics, office staff and the schools they serve and know their entire team values their contribution, said general manager Michelle House.

Nothing Says Thanks Like Pancakes
Mean while 500 miles to the North, the First Student branch in Olathe, Kan., continued its tradition of letting drivers know they care by keeping them well fed. The week prior, the company held a pancake breakfast for the drivers. The next week Back Yard Burgers came to the bus barn and grilled for all the drivers, held drawings and gave out prizes.

Regional manager Linda Sallaz said these events are part of a tradition that lets drivers know they’re valued. First Student helped drivers carry that message every day, giving each driver a backpack that read “You’re Appreciated.”

“I think it makes a real difference,” she said.