October 21 is Georgia Bus Driver and Bus Monitor Appreciation Day. Bus drivers and monitors play an important role as they transport approximately 15,000 Houston County students every day and drive over 3.5 million mies annually.

“Our bus drivers and monitors are often the first and last interaction of the day with our students,” said Dr. Cheryl Thomas, Assistant Superintendent of School Operations for the Houston County School District. “They each play a very important role in our District and contribute to the overall success of our students. We are thankful for how they prioritize safety to help ensure our students are delivered safely to and from chool every day.”

Additionally, the District will celebrate National School Bus Safety Week (NSBSW) October 21-25. NSBSW is a great time to remind students and families to observe all safety recommendations while boarding, riding, and exiting a school bus. “Safety First – Safety Always” is the theme for this year’s National School Bus Safety Week. Later this year, students throughout our District will participate in the Georgia Association of Pupil Transportation’s statewide Bus Safety Poster Competition with the opportunity to move forward to the national competition. Last school year, Nora Schuber, a current eighth grader at Bonaire Middle School, won first place at the state and national level in the Division 3 competition. 

The District shared these tips from the National Association of Pupil Transportation.

Getting Ready for School

• Have your children put everything they carry in a backpack or school bag so that they won’t drop things along the way.

• Encourage them to wear bright, contrasting colors so they will be more easily seen by drivers.

• Make sure children leave home on time so they can arrive at the bus stop before it is due, ideally at least five minutes early. Running after or in front of a bus is dangerous. 

Walking to the Bus Stop

• Walk young children to the bus stop or encourage children to walk in groups. There is safety in numbers; groups are easier for drivers to see.

• Practice good pedestrian behavior: walk on the sidewalk, and if there is no sidewalk stay out of the street. If you must walk in the street, walk single file, face traffic and stay as close to the edge of the road as you can.

• Stop and look left, right and then left again if you must cross the street. Do the same thing at driveways and alleys. Exaggerate your head turns and narrate your actions so your child knows you are looking left, right and left. 

At the Bus Stop

• Have children wait in a location where the driver can see them while driving down the street.

• Try to avoid waiting in a house or car.

• Do not let children play in the street. Playing with balls or other toys that could roll into the street is also dangerous.

Getting On and Off the Bus

• Warn children that if they drop something getting on and off the bus, they should never pick it up. Instead, they should tell the driver and follow the driver’s instructions.

• Remind children to look to the right before they step off the bus.

• If you meet your child at the bus stop after school, wait on the side where the child will be dropped off, not across the street. Children can be so excited to see you after school that they dash across the street and forget the safety rules.

Mobile Devices

• Cell phones and other electronic devices are often permitted on the school bus as long as:

• They are in backpacks or other holders, keeping hands free to use handrails while boarding and departing the bus.

• Sound is muted or headphones, ear buds or similar devices are used.

• Content does not violate the law or school district policy and procedures.

• Use does not create a distraction for the driver.

For more information about the Houston County School District’s Transportation Department, visit www.hcbe.net/transportation.