“Do everything you can to understand
what it is like to be in the seat of a bus driver and advocate for that role end- lessly,” she noted. “Work for them, don’t make them work for you. When you work to make their job easier, they can focus on what really matters, the daily safety of each student.” She also emphasized the importance
of regular training for both students and drivers. “Drivers hate this, but it’s the job,” she added. Lake Steven’s Koski said it’s important
to promote safety through consistent communication, positive reinforcement and leadership modeling of safe behavior. “Use short, scenario-based refreshers rather than long, one-time sessions,” she advised, noting the importance of clear procedures for vehicle inspections and writing up defects for the shop. In following up on any type of incident,
Kollman advocates for analyzing the root cause of crashes. “Conduct a comprehen- sive review to identify the most frequent underlying causes of accidents and implement targeted strategies to mitigate each,” he advised. In Lake Washington’s case, this in-
cludes leveraging the district’s accident review subcommittee to ensure account- ability. He also recommends quarterly ride-
alongs with each driver to proactively monitor driving performance, identify unsafe behaviors and reinforce positive practices. The process should include documenting and reviewing results collaboratively with drivers to support continuous improvement and recognize excellence. “Make safety the core value of all transportation operations,” Kollman concluded. “This means fostering clear communication, ensuring transparency, celebrating achievements, empowering drivers, and insuring driving account- ability through measurable performance metrics.” ●
Creating a Safe Bus Yard Assuring the safety of children while in transport as well
as that of drivers and other staff is paramount. But that priority can also be applied to the facilities supporting transportation. Amy Rosa, director of transportation and safety for Wa-Nee Community Schools in Indiana, offers the following tips for designing a school bus facility with safety in mind.
1. Avoid pedestrian/vehicle traffic whenever possible.
2. Control speed with signage and speed bumps, if necessary.
3. Clearly define pedestrian walkways and enforce this safety protocol.
4. Provide enough space for buses to park, to avoid collision when parking and maneuvering.
5. Assign buses to consistent spots.
6. If a fuel island is included, provide more than enough space for buses to maneuver around.
7. Protect the fuel area with bollards.
8. Plan for snow removal and salt distribution before the first event of the year.
9. Consider turn radius when snow is an issue.
10. Place electric poles on exterior positions outside the fencing.
11. Provide sufficient security lighting. 12. Install security cameras that have recording ability.
13. Secure the perimeter with authorized personnel RFID access cards for fencing and gates.
14. If possible, design one-way traffic patterns within the parking lot.
15. Design power supplies for diesel buses to keep cords off the ground and to avoid tripping.
44 School Transportation News • FEBRUARY 2026
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