~ Quote from: "Knox County driver hopes incident promotes school bus safety," By Lola Alapo, Knoxville News Sentinel

School bus drivers hopeful public awareness helps promote school bus safety

2safeschools Note: This article by James Kraemer (2safeschools.org) presents school bus drivers issues that too often contribute to frustration on the job and excessive attrition. None of the information in this article should be considered a substitute for legal or medical professional care or any of the services provided from those professions.

The Nation - It is well known, at least within the school bus industry, that a chronic school bus driver shortage has existed for at least a decade. This shortage of qualified school bus drivers persists and regardless of economic conditions and varying workforce availability within many communities.

Some experts’ claim it is the stress of dealing with, "certain students," that makes bus drivers leave the profession. However, school bus drivers claim it is the stress of dealing with certain students and with certain adults day-in and day-out and with no relief in sight. School bus drivers everyday deal with threats to the safety of the children they transport, as well as threats to their own safety from some children and also from some parents.

One issue that stands out but is rarely given much study in the press concerns a chronic lack of effective school bus driver support at problem school bus transportation facilities.

Public neglect for the safety of children riding on the school buses and the decent treatment of their school bus drivers would be unacceptable were it not the state doing it. (This Report Continues - Click here for complete article)

The Seven Highly Effective Steps to Keeping Your Child Safe
School bus safety information for parents is covered in this free 3-fold MS word template that can be customized to fit your policies. Take the short survey and order the free template with our thanks for helping keep children safe. Link to survey | More free bus safety resources - Click Here. Public Comments | Letter To Editor | Discuss in the forums | Survey.

Featured School Bus Driver Website
"Some say that it takes a special kind of person to do this job. I say I am thankful there are so many of us!" ~ Donna McMahan
Donna McMahan has driven the same school bus for thirteen years. "It began as a part time job that gave us more cash and allowed me to still be a full time mother and teacher to our three homeschooled children. Now it is a second job and just part of my life." McMahan's Web site presents information to parents, then moves on to some excellent child safety content and a need to show pride in following the bus rules: "Show your Pride it's more than a Free Ride!" McMahan's Web site presents a variety of tips covering school bus safety education to children, parents and schools. A sober school bus driver that believes, "We can be SAFE..... and still have FUN! Click Here for Featured Website) | Public Comments | Letter To Editor | Discuss in the forums

Featured Bus Safety Program: The Peaceful School Bus
This program works as a stand-alone or a whole-school program that's designed to decrease inappropriate behavior on buses while creating a climate of respect and cooperation. Teachers, administrators, parents, and students take part in school bus route group meetings. At these meetings the students

1.) Take part in team-building exercises
2.) Develop mentoring relationships by pairing older students with younger students on the bus
3.) Talk about bullying - and what behavior is and is not acceptable
4.) Get to personally know their driver, who is present at the meetings:

In a nutshell: The Peaceful School Bus Program is a stand-alone or whole-school program designed to decrease inappropriate behavior on school buses while creating a climate of respect and cooperation. The adults in school take the primary responsibility of educating and training students in the program so students can, in turn, act responsibly on school buses when staff members are not present. The Peaceful School Bus Program is neither a discipline program, nor is it training for school bus drivers. The program aims to change the social dynamics on the school bus by building strong, positive relationships among students (and the bus driver) and teaching students to take responsibility for their "bus route group" and what happens on the bus. This program can be implemented as a stand-alone program but would be even more effective as a supplement to a whole school bullying prevention or violence prevention program. Click here for Website

For Kids: Report a School Bully. | For Employees: Report a Workplace Bully.