SPECIAL REPORT
icy for bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and hazing of students and employees. The district will investi- gate, and if a violation is found, will address through discipline, or prosecute through federal and state laws. Additionally, the State of Utah requires school staff to take anti-bullying training every three years. Wasatch County School District’s school transpor-
tation department goes above the state’s requirement by training its bus drivers every other year, either in person or online. It uses Springer’s ASPEN on the Bus training course to help student transporters crack the codes of behavior by looking in the mirror. The ASPEN program features modules for breaking the cycle of bullying and bringing together teachers and school transporters to build safe havens. A safe haven is considered to be any place where a caring adult can define rules and expectations, encourage positive interactions, and create a space for conflict resolution. Without these boundaries, students and drivers are left out on a ledge, and it’s not safe for anybody. “We hit [training] hard,” said Kris Allen, transpor-
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tation director for Wasatch County School District, which has 49 buses to transport 3,500 students a day. The district uses additional resources every three
years to meet the state training requirement. If a bullying incident occurs on the bus, the transportation department follows a process to im- mediately address the issue. First, the driver addresses anything with an onboard consequence, then a discipline slip is given to the violator. A copy of the slip is turned into the transportation office where an administrator works to resolve the problem with parents, teachers and principals. Often video camera data is used to fully understand what took place on the bus, Allen explained.
Guiding Through Empathy In general, children need guidance in developing their empathy skills. As they grow, they tend to be egocentric and most interested in their own needs. When kids fall into a selfish mindset, they will bully and coerce to get their way. The best way to put a stop or even curb these events is to provide enough supervision and structure for kids. Adults also can encourage empathy from children
by demonstrating appropriate behavior, under- standing how children think and determining how to regulate emotions. It’s also helpful to encourage children to talk more about their feelings. ●
AMF Bruns America 877-506-3770
www.amfbrunsamerica.com est 1958
More about the ASPEN on the Bus program and compassionate training can be found at
www.totempd.com.
26 School Transportation News • MARCH 2022
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