SARATOGA SPRINGS, (Aug. 3, 2005) ­ The Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex Board of Cooperative Educational Services (WSWHE BOCES) will launch a pilot program simulcasting its School Bus Driver Training class using its Saratoga-Adirondack (SAN) Distance Learning network at the F. Donald Myers Education Center in Saratoga on Aug. 17.

Lance Freiberger, WSWHE BOCES Transportation Safety Coordinator, explained that the School Bus Driver Training class ­ a two-hour safety refresher course that¹s a New York State Education Department requirement for school bus drivers ­ will be offered at the Distance Learning Lab, which offers a two-way interactive video/voice network between two or more districts simultaneously. This pilot program will be simulcast to Waterford-Halfmoon and Newcomb Schools. A total of 31 bus drivers will participate: 10 in Saratoga; six at Waterford and 15 at Newcomb, which includes bus drivers from Indian Lake.

³We¹re excited about being able to offer this course using the technology that¹s already being used by school districts. Bus drivers within a 100-mile radius will now be able to take this two-hour refresher practically without leaving home, ³ said Freiberger.

Bridget Muller, WSWHE BOCES Training Specialist, said ³I¹ll teach the refresher from Saratoga and be able to interact with all the bus drivers who are in Saratoga and at the other two schools and they¹ll be able to talk with one another and share their experiences and concerns.²

Freiberger said, ³Our goal is to build a Statewide Learning Network to allow school districts access to affordable and necessary bus driver training programs such as Crisis Intervention, Emergency Planning, and Student Management. In addition we¹d like to tie in with local community colleges to give possible degree programs for transportation supervisors, head mechanics, dispatchers, routing specialists, and school administrators. Not only is it convenient, it¹s cost-effective.²

To teach bus safety to young children at the start of school, Freiberger presents ³Barney the Bus School Bus Safety Program² using two robotic buses named Barney and Buster. ³Our challenge,² Freiberger said, ³is that everybody wants Barney and Buster the first week of school. Being able to use the Distance Learning technology in the future we¹ll be able to bring this program to several districts and interact with the students all at one time. Plus, we¹ll be able to use the magic of TV when we¹re on camera in the Distance Learning Lab and can make our presentation even more special.²

School Bus Driver Training is one of many courses offered in school transportation training from WSWHE BOCES. For more information, contact Freiberger at (518) 581-3365 or (518) 746-3365 or check out the website at www.wswheboces.org.