lar route,” said Maurice “Mo” Green, super- intendent of schools in Guilford County in Greensoboro. Others addressing the group included


Tim Flood, president of the National School Transportation Association; Carlas McCauley, director of the U.S. Department of Education Office of School Improvement Grants; Congressman Howard Coble; and High Point Mayor Bernita Sims. Each took a turn in acknowledging the roles played by transportation staff. “Love the Bus is a great event that allows


the schools to recognize and thank their school bus drivers,” said Flood. “Without the safe and reliable transportation that the yellow school bus provides, many of these students would be unable to get the educa- tion that they need.” Te Oak Hill student body added a lively


touch with young cheerleaders, their yellow shirts highlighted by green and white skirts, lining the hallways to greet visitors. In the auditorium where the event was staged, a group of first-graders gave an engaging interpretation of the children’s book “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” Not to be outdone, excited fourth-graders performed two songs on recorders. Te event represented the culmination of


a month of special activities at the school and nationwide. Oak Hill teachers incorporated bus-related information in lesson plans, and students created colorful murals depicting buses and riders that were posted along the school’s corridors that Foxx and other digni- taries walked to reach the assembly. “Our promise as a country that all


children have the possibility of future success depends on an equitable education system,” said Ashton Wheeler Clemmons, the school’s principal. “School buses are an integral part of that promise.” Foxx echoed her sentiments. Commenting


after the ceremony, he reiterated the need to recognize the contributions of drivers. “It’s important that kids understand the


importance of our bus drivers.” he said. “Tey go out day after day, sometimes in ad- verse weather, to provide safe transportation for our children.”


He also pointed to developments that


may bode well for the future. New standards for fuel efficiency hold promise for signif- icant cost savings for school districts, he said. And a reduction in pollutants from bus operations should improve air quality. It wasn’t the first time Foxx has worked with ASBC, as he joined U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan last September in


Tucson, Ariz., to meet with transportation personnel and students in an event also sponsored in part by the school bus industry. Tat visit was part of Duncan’s “Back-to- School” trek to schools located through the Southwest. Foxx and Duncan boarded a school bus along with students and rode to an elementary school. Later Foxx had a meeting with ASBC officials to learn more about the school bus industry and to discuss future campaigns in support of the yellow bus, such as Love the Bus. Te group also discussed the link between


school bus transportation and academic achievement in the classroom. While Love the Bus events were staged


around the country in February, Oak Hill’s profile made it ideal for this year’s primary event. About 99 percent of students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, more than half speak one of 18 languages at home and the majority rely on school buses to bring them to and from school each day. In addition, the school has benefitted


from strong volunteer support from Tomas Built Bus, a High Point-area bus manu- facturer and one of three ASBC corporate board members. Tanks in part to this assistance, along with a 2010 Federal School Improvement Grant, Guilford County-based Oak Hill improved from ranking as one of the lowest performing Title I schools in North Car- olina to the state’s highest-rated school in 2012-2013. As the third largest school district in


North Carolina, Guilford County Schools operates 670 school buses and employs 1,000 transportation workers. Buses travel 54,000 miles per day to transport 42,000 students across the county, according to school officials. Te Love the Bus initiative, launched in


2007, is a grassroots recognition program held in schools across the nation each Feb- ruary. Trough a variety of events, children learn about bus safety and take the time to thank drivers for their service. Last year’s main event took place in Arlington, Va. Organizers point out that buses provided


the safest form of transportation for school children, with teens being about 50 times more likely to arrive at school safely on a bus than if they drive themselves or ride with friends, and younger children benefit from remarkable safe records as well. At the same time, it’s estimated that


over 17 million cars are kept off the roads near schools each morning thanks to bus transportation. 


£ Foxx walks through the Oak Hill Elementary hallway as he is greeted first by cheerleaders (above) before he meets other students and talks about the importance of the yellow school bus and bus drivers.


£ Student members of the Oak Hill Elementary Safety Patrol greet Secretary Foxx as he arrives on campus for the Love the Bus event.


View a complete gallery of photos on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/STNMag


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