SPECIAL REPORT The Fine Line of Student-Driver Relationships
When interacting with students, drivers need to not only identify the line between what is proper and not but also keep from crossing it
By Stephane Babcock “It” has been the subject of more than
one investigative report on both national and local evening news programs. It starts off simple enough — a hello
in the morning, a joke about something that happened along the way to school. But then it gets a little more personal. Problems at home are discussed, phone numbers are exchanged and communi- cation goes beyond the short trip to and from school. A definite minority among the throngs
of school bus drivers that take the job and their responsibilities seriously, there are still those bad seeds that take advantage of a young student’s age, innocence and trust, which can muddy the waters for everyone. “Drawing the line can be difficult,
but drivers must always remember that caring respect can be conveyed with a sincere look in the eye rather than touch,” said attorney and founder of Education Compliance Group Peggy Burns. “Drivers should not be in ‘after-hours’ relation- ships with students, and they shouldn’t have time in their work day to become involved in students’ personal situations.” Like many aspects of a bus driver’s
work day, training is the best medicine to prevent even the possibility of any objectionable behavior, even when it is meant in the most innocent way. Laura Corff, a route supervisor for Cimarron Public Transit in northern Oklahoma, ad- vises her drivers to keep their hands off all students and only use the backs of their hands when either securing a wheelchair or helping a student with a seat belt. “Tell the rider what is going on as much
as possible,” said Corff. “Drivers must learn the line and keep their distance. It is dif- ficult for some.” And when it comes to hugs, most di- rectors urge their staff to avoid physical
contact in anyway, unless it is a simple “high five,” and to never touch students un- less it’s a medical emergency. Dave Bellizzi, a bus driver from Bardonia, N.Y., acts like a police officer while on the job and never crosses the line while he’s on duty. “In today’s litigious society, you have
to keep it strictly business. Years ago you could do these things. Now it’s a lawsuit,” said Bellizzi. Te hiring process is another good
way to deter any instances of inappro- priateness between drivers and students. Tere are background checks that must be performed initially, but reviewing an employee’s character is something that continues throughout their time in your department. Getting to know staff on a more personal level helps Sharon Jenkins determine what kind of person she is hir- ing by gauging their moral character. As transportation and grounds director for Unified School District 428 in Great Bend, Kan., Jenkins said she believes that a driver can be compassionate and friendly with- out going overboard. “You talk to the students, and if they
need more help than you can give, direct them to a school counselor. You cannot let your heart overrule your head,” she added. Keeping the relationships one-gendered
can sometimes help keep drivers safe from innuendo or the possibility of false accusa- tions. Kathy Calkins, a driver trainer from David Douglas School District 40, contin- ues to stay in touch with some of her past female riders who now attended college via Facebook and believes that developing rela- tionships with the opposite gender is a fire waiting to happen and should be avoided at all costs. But, she added, this shouldn’t stop drivers from continuing to make efforts to make a difference in their riders’ lives. “I too, have helped a student now and
28 School Transportation News Magazine September 2010
then. One year I brought a student a Christ- mas tree, because she told me that her family couldn’t afford one,” recalled Calkins. If one of her department’s drivers wants
to do something special for their students, they must go through the dispatch office, which contacts the parents to get approv- al before driver does their good deed. “Drivers should never cross the line
beyond a business/friendly relationship, which is a fine one, but I also believe they should never stop trying to make a differ- ence in students lives,” said Calkins. n
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