As I look out the window of my office right now, I see nine buses rolling in from the elementary and parking in front of the MS/HS building. After watching the video on last night's news of the SE Polk bus that caught on fire with students on board the first day of school, I recognize once again what an important role our transportation department and drivers play in the safety of our children.
Because of the geographical nature of our district, we transport three-fourths of our students--almost 600--every day. We take that responsibility very seriously. Every fall, our students are involved in drills on exiting the bus in case of an emergency. This past spring, the board of education supported the recommendation to require all drivers to pass a physical fitness test. Our buses and vehicles are well maintained and pass rigorous safety tests each year, and a rotation of bus/vehicle replacement is part of the district's long-term financial planning. Furthermore, Jimmy and Kelly Hummel attend training provided by the Department of Education each summer to ensure that they are up to date on the most recent regulations and safety standards.
It was gratifying to hear students of SE Polk talk on the news about the training they had received each year and the confidence they had in both their driver and in knowing exactly what to do in such an emergency.
I am confident our students would respond the same way, knowing what I do about the professionalism, capabilities, and dedication to safety of all those responsible for transporting our students to and from school each day.
If given the opportunity, please consider thanking your bus driver or Jimmy and Kelly for all they do to keep our students safe.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.