SPECIAL REPORT
Stopfinder solution for communication with parents. “We’ll be using that to try to get notifications out to par-
ents when there is an incident, even if it’s just a late bus or a breakdown or an accident,” he said, adding that now the entire school doesn’t have to receive the notification, only the parents involved with that certain bus. Livingston in Virginia said that while onboard camer-
as don’t necessarily prevent incidents from happening, they are another tool available to drivers for protecting themselves and providing a reference when needed. However, in terms of students having cell phones on the bus, Livingston noted that the same usage polices apply whether in the classroom or on the bus. Students are not allowed to videotape, text or communicate at all. Personal devices can be used to listen to music but can- not be used as a communication device. He said if there’s an incident and a student sends a message to a parent, they can be written up and disciplined for it.
Protecting Drivers Hart at Escambia said if two students are fighting on the
bus—depending on the age and the size of the students involved—bus drivers are trained to not get hurt. But if it’s two first graders for example, bus drivers can separate
the students after safely pulling the bus over. She reiterat- ed the importance of drivers having a good relationship with the students being transported because often other students on the bus will protect the driver as well. However, she noted that bus driver safety is not a big
concern for her staff. She explained that they are aware that incidents could happen while driving, but they are not constantly thinking about it. Routes with a high rate of violent tendencies have an assistant on board as well. Livingston noted that drivers are instructed to not get
into a situation that’s going to be detrimental to their own well-being. “We have to do everything we can to de-escalate a situation,” he said, adding that the entire staff goes through in-service training each year that touches on de-escalation techniques. “If they can, they will physically intervene to protect other students, but by the same token we can’t have them becoming injured. They have to be there to protect everybody, not just the two that are having the altercation.” Jones said Fort Bend ISD in Texas restored its monthly
safety meetings following COVID-19. Each meeting is dedicated to talking about student management. Trans- portation also brings in outside perspectives to talk to the staff, so that new faces are delivering the messages. ●
24 School Transportation News • MAY 2024
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