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children who rode Poland’s school bus, according to local news reports. “Since you were the nicest person I’ve
met, I’ll be the same way,” wrote one girl. “I hope you are happy knowing you protected and saved many others.” Another student wrote, “I really don’t
know how something so bad can hap- pen to a good man. To me, he is a hero. And he is in a better place.” Te following week, Aaron Poland
expressed pride in his father’s courage and shared that he and his entire family had prayed for both Jimmy Dykes and Ethan during the weeklong ordeal. “If it had to happen at all, I thank God it happened on that bus because I know my dad was strong enough to do what he needed to do,” Poland told the Charlotte Observer. “When mom heard Ethan was free and safe, she said, 'I’m glad. Your dad’s final drop is done. He delivered the final child into his mother’s arms safely. So the job is done. He completed it. It is final.'”
INDUSTRY RESPONSE State Superintendent of Education
Dr. Tommy Bice issued a statement in the aftermath of Poland’s death. “First and foremost, we want to convey
our deepest regrets to the family of the slain bus driver and, at the same time, prepare for the anticipated, safe rescue of our abducted student,” said Dr. Bice. Te National Association for Pupil
Transportation had already launched a national conversation to develop strategies to make schools and school transporta- tion safer and more secure in the wake of the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., and President Alexandra Robinson said that conversation will expand even further. “Once again, our nation confronts a senseless, horrific tragedy that involves one of our most trusted public services … we mourn the loss of one of our own and we lament the terrifying situation children witnessed,” she wrote in a state- ment. “School buses are our safest mode of transportation. But they must also be as secure as possible. Our children and grandchildren also ride in school buses, and we are pledged to nothing less than the highest security standards for the children entrusted to us each school day, and those who drive them.” Max Christensen, president of the
National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, noted that the murder of Poland and kidnapping of Ethan served as a reminder of the impor-
SCHOOL BUS DRIVER AND SECURITY TIPS In the wake of the recent onboard shooting death of driver Chuck Poland,
the Office of Supporting Programs at the Alabama DOE recommends remind- ing all school bus drivers to: • Know their route. They should assess all stops and route conditions daily. Remind them to be watchful of suspicious or unusual situations, people, vehicles, objects, etc.; skip stops if something makes them suspicious or gives them reason to be concerned; and report concerns to their supervisor.
• Remember that any time the door is open, both drivers and students are vulnerable. The door should only be opened to load or unload students or at railroad crossings. The window should be used when conversations are unavoidable.
• Never allow any unauthorized person to board their bus. • Ensure that drivers make no unscheduled stops. They must stop only at designated and approved stops.
• Remind them to trust their instincts. If something doesn’t look or feel right, it probably isn’t.
• Ensure that drivers strictly adhere to all safety procedures, including thorough pre-trip and post-trip inspections of their school bus.
Source: Alabama Department of Education
tance of school bus safety and security. “NASDPTS joins with the entire
school transportation family in hon- oring Mr. Poland for his selfless and heroic act in protecting the children riding his school bus. He paid the high- est price, but he kept ‘his kids’ safe,” said Christensen. “Our hearts and sympathy go out to the family of Charles Poland, and we pray that something like this never happens again.” When Eric Watkins, director of tran-
portation for Stewart County Schools in Dover, Tenn., heard of Poland’s tragic death, he was immediately transported back in time to March 2, 2005 — the day Joyce Gregory was shot and killed by then 14-year-old student Jason Clinard. Te teenager was tried and convicted as an adult two years later and now is serving life in prison. Clinard shot Gregory because she had reported him to school administrators for using smokeless tobacco on the bus. Tough the details of this incident
differ from Poland’s, both drivers are hailed as heroes for protecting the students in their care no matter the consequences. Watkins said he contacted Mickey
Outlaw, director of transportation for Dale County, as soon as he heard about the incident to offer his condolences and any help. Watkins kew what Out- law was going and recounted the very emotions he felt during that “chaotic” day eight years ago. “(Outlaw) was very emotional; we
talked for about 15 minutes,” Watkins said. “One of my reactions (eight years ago) was a feeling of guilt … Was there something I should have been doing?” As a result of that incident, Wat- kins said he had all 44 of his buses equipped with video cameras and now won’t run any buses without an extensive video monitoring system. He added that he hopes the industry as a whole can learn from these trage- dies and find ways to improve drivers’ working conditions and increase safety for them as well as their students. Coincidentally, a surveillance system
on the Dale County bus recorded the standoff between Dykes and Poland as other students escaped through the rear emergency exit before the shooting.
20 School Transportation News March 2013
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