Student Transportation Safety Follow-up
Date: 20 August 2008
To: Dr. Del Burns, Superintendent
From: Don Haydon
Subj: Student Safety Follow-Up Report
In a memorandum dated 2 August 2008, I summarized some of the actions that have been taken and are being taken to continuously improve the safety of student transportation operations. The purpose of this memorandum is to provide a follow-up progress report.
The following additional actions have been taken:
- Because one of the unacceptable incidents that occurred during the first week of year-round calendar schools involved a student being returned to the pick-up point, Transportation Department leaders have clarified and reinforced the procedure that once a student is picked-up, the student will be taken to the next school or his/her school. Once the student is safely at a school, the school administrators and Transportation staff will determine the best way to get the student to the proper school.
- It is essential that young students be properly identified during the first days of the school year, so that they are dropped at the correct bus stop. Accordingly, Transportation leaders met with Area Superintendents to collaboratively improve the procedures for student identification. They identified a list of information that should be included on identification tags for each kindergarten and first grade student, as well as refined procedures for bus drivers to follow. Senior Director Eddy Adams summarized the procedure in a memorandum to elementary school principals; a copy of his memorandum is attached.
- The Transportation Advisory Committee convened a special called meeting to review the procedures for pick-up and drop-off of students, and to review the procedures developed by the Area Superintendents and Transportation Department leadership. The committee’s recommendations were incorporated into Mr. Adams’ memorandum.
- The Transportation Committee of the Division of Principals and Assistant Principals sought best practices from schools across the system for identifying students and will share those best practices with all schools.
- The Transportation Advisory Committee asked that parents be reminded that bus drivers will not discharge a kindergarten or first grade student at a stop unless a responsible person is present at the stop.
- The Transportation Department held its annual bus driver training sessions earlier this month, during which leadership reemphasized the procedures and practices for pick-up and drop-off of students.
The Transportation Department is committed to continuous improvement of procedures for the safe transportation of our students.