Bus drivers across the country see tons of instances of drivers not stopping for the school buses. The reality is those people typically aren’t driving past stopped buses out of malice, but rather because they are uninformed.
Showing posts with label school bus safety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school bus safety. Show all posts
Monday, August 5, 2019
Monday, April 29, 2019
Exorbitant Amount of Daily Transportation Changes Spur Safety Concerns at NJ-SP
Posted on April 27, 2019
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
Bus safety is a matter that is currently being addressed all across the nation.
Locally, North Judson-San Pierre Transportation Director Wilbur Collins took action this winter to install cameras on all the buses to catch drivers who pass them when the stop arm is extended.
Adjustments were also made to the bus routes to eliminate potentially unsafe pick-ups and drop-offs.
School officials are taking another step to improve student safety with a transportation policy change that’s included in the proposed handbooks for next school year.
According to Elementary School Principal Julie Berndt, the school receives approximately 75-80 transportation changes per day. They come in the form of faxes, phone calls and emails at various times.
So far, office personnel and bus drivers have done a good job keeping up with all the different arrangements, however, school officials worry that the inconsistency is ultimately problematic.
Director Collins explained that he reached out to other transportation officials on a public forum and received over 30 responses from school corporations who experience similar issues.
Some places, such as Mill Creek and Franklin County Schools, sent along their policies. Others expressed that they were also overwhelmed from trying to accommodate various requests and asked for additional information on effective procedures and implementation.
To address the problem at NJ-SP, a policy that would only allow for one A.M. pick-up location and one P.M. drop-off location is being proposed. Those two locations could differ from one another.
Exceptions would only be made in the case of emergencies or when the Starke County Youth Club does not meet. Guardians would also be able to arrange to pick their child up, as long as they contact the office prior to 11 a.m.
Though Principal Berndt presented a majority of the information about this proposed policy change, Principal Jim Polite noted that it would also be reflected at the Junior/Senior High as well.
When the policy was reviewed at last week’s school board meeting, a concern was raised about parents who are consistent with their arrangements but don’t always have students dropped off at the same location. For example, children who always get dropped off at a certain relative’s house on a particular day but go home the rest of the week.
Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin indicated that they’re mostly interested in cutting down on the daily changes that come in to help get students to their destination safely and consistently.
She noted that some adjustments could possibly be made to the policy to ensure those who aren’t taking advantage of the system won’t be negatively impacted.
Members were encouraged to continue reviewing the policy and sending in their suggestions prior to the school board’s next meeting in May when the handbooks will be up for adoption.
You can hear more from the school board’s handbook discussion tomorrow at noon during WKVI’s Kankakee Valley Viewpoints Program.
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
Bus safety is a matter that is currently being addressed all across the nation.
Locally, North Judson-San Pierre Transportation Director Wilbur Collins took action this winter to install cameras on all the buses to catch drivers who pass them when the stop arm is extended.
Adjustments were also made to the bus routes to eliminate potentially unsafe pick-ups and drop-offs.
School officials are taking another step to improve student safety with a transportation policy change that’s included in the proposed handbooks for next school year.
According to Elementary School Principal Julie Berndt, the school receives approximately 75-80 transportation changes per day. They come in the form of faxes, phone calls and emails at various times.
So far, office personnel and bus drivers have done a good job keeping up with all the different arrangements, however, school officials worry that the inconsistency is ultimately problematic.
Director Collins explained that he reached out to other transportation officials on a public forum and received over 30 responses from school corporations who experience similar issues.
Some places, such as Mill Creek and Franklin County Schools, sent along their policies. Others expressed that they were also overwhelmed from trying to accommodate various requests and asked for additional information on effective procedures and implementation.
To address the problem at NJ-SP, a policy that would only allow for one A.M. pick-up location and one P.M. drop-off location is being proposed. Those two locations could differ from one another.
Exceptions would only be made in the case of emergencies or when the Starke County Youth Club does not meet. Guardians would also be able to arrange to pick their child up, as long as they contact the office prior to 11 a.m.
Though Principal Berndt presented a majority of the information about this proposed policy change, Principal Jim Polite noted that it would also be reflected at the Junior/Senior High as well.
When the policy was reviewed at last week’s school board meeting, a concern was raised about parents who are consistent with their arrangements but don’t always have students dropped off at the same location. For example, children who always get dropped off at a certain relative’s house on a particular day but go home the rest of the week.
Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin indicated that they’re mostly interested in cutting down on the daily changes that come in to help get students to their destination safely and consistently.
She noted that some adjustments could possibly be made to the policy to ensure those who aren’t taking advantage of the system won’t be negatively impacted.
Members were encouraged to continue reviewing the policy and sending in their suggestions prior to the school board’s next meeting in May when the handbooks will be up for adoption.
You can hear more from the school board’s handbook discussion tomorrow at noon during WKVI’s Kankakee Valley Viewpoints Program.
Thursday, March 21, 2019
Proposed School Bus Safety Legislation Could Lead to Policy Updates at Local Schools
Posted on March 21, 2019
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Local school officials are preparing for possible changes in bus safety laws. Culver Community Schools Superintendent Karen Shuman says Senate Bill 2 would have an impact on her school corporation.
On most highways, buses would be banned from loading or unloading students at a place that would require them to cross a roadway. “We already currently do that practice,” Shuman explains, “but we don’t have a policy that lines up to that, so we’ll have to do that, and then prep our parents that there may be longer bus rides for some and shorter bus rides for others.”
Senate Bill 2 would also increase penalties for motorists who fail to stop for buses with their stop arm extended, among other provisions. Shuman says it’s one of a few education-related bills she brought to the attention of the school board, during Monday’s meeting.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Local school officials are preparing for possible changes in bus safety laws. Culver Community Schools Superintendent Karen Shuman says Senate Bill 2 would have an impact on her school corporation.
On most highways, buses would be banned from loading or unloading students at a place that would require them to cross a roadway. “We already currently do that practice,” Shuman explains, “but we don’t have a policy that lines up to that, so we’ll have to do that, and then prep our parents that there may be longer bus rides for some and shorter bus rides for others.”
Senate Bill 2 would also increase penalties for motorists who fail to stop for buses with their stop arm extended, among other provisions. Shuman says it’s one of a few education-related bills she brought to the attention of the school board, during Monday’s meeting.
Thursday, December 27, 2018
Bus Stop Safety Concerns Prompt Renewed Push for All of Indiana to Observe Central Time
Posted on December 26, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
After an early morning accident at a Fulton County bus stop left three children dead back in October, some local school officials think a time zone change could improve student safety.
The Culver School Board passed a resolution last week calling for the entire state to observe Central Time. “With the recent bus safety concerns and students’ transportation to school concerns, there’s been a re-synergy of that desire to be on Central Time,” says Culver Community Schools Superintendent Karen Shuman, “so that kids are going to school when there’s light out.”
Shuman also notes that Culver is in the unusual position of serving students in both the Central and Eastern time zones. “So with that component and addressing that need of bus safety, it kind of makes it a win for us, as far as all our students being on one time,” she says. While all of the corporation’s schools are in the Eastern Time Zone, the Starke County portion of the Culver School District observes Central Time.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
After an early morning accident at a Fulton County bus stop left three children dead back in October, some local school officials think a time zone change could improve student safety.
The Culver School Board passed a resolution last week calling for the entire state to observe Central Time. “With the recent bus safety concerns and students’ transportation to school concerns, there’s been a re-synergy of that desire to be on Central Time,” says Culver Community Schools Superintendent Karen Shuman, “so that kids are going to school when there’s light out.”
Shuman also notes that Culver is in the unusual position of serving students in both the Central and Eastern time zones. “So with that component and addressing that need of bus safety, it kind of makes it a win for us, as far as all our students being on one time,” she says. While all of the corporation’s schools are in the Eastern Time Zone, the Starke County portion of the Culver School District observes Central Time.
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Safety is a Priority as Children go Back to School
Posted on August 1, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
It’s the time of the year when school buses will be filling the roadways transporting students to school on their first day back to classes for the new school year.
State law requires motorists to stop when a school bus is picking up or dropping off children. Watch for buses with the stop arm extended and red lights flashing. When this occurs, drivers are required to stop. A person who disregards a school bus stop arm commits a Class A Infraction and could receive a maximum fine of $10,000.
If a roadway is divided by a physical barrier or an unimproved median, vehicles that are traveling in the same direction as the school bus need to stop. Vehicles traveling in the opposite direction do not need to stop if a school bus driver has activated the stop arm and red flashing lights.
Drivers should be aware of increased pedestrian traffic around bus stops and schools. Watch for children as they bike or walk to school.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
It’s the time of the year when school buses will be filling the roadways transporting students to school on their first day back to classes for the new school year.
State law requires motorists to stop when a school bus is picking up or dropping off children. Watch for buses with the stop arm extended and red lights flashing. When this occurs, drivers are required to stop. A person who disregards a school bus stop arm commits a Class A Infraction and could receive a maximum fine of $10,000.
If a roadway is divided by a physical barrier or an unimproved median, vehicles that are traveling in the same direction as the school bus need to stop. Vehicles traveling in the opposite direction do not need to stop if a school bus driver has activated the stop arm and red flashing lights.
Drivers should be aware of increased pedestrian traffic around bus stops and schools. Watch for children as they bike or walk to school.
Monday, September 25, 2017
School Bus Safety
Posted on September 23, 2017
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
The new design of many school buses is causing some concerns about safety. A feature that was installed to give drivers more warning that children are in the area and the bus is about to stop is not being heeded.
In the past, when a bus would stop the arm would come out and the red lights would flash in unison. Now buses feature flashing yellow lights while the driver is coming to a stop, and once they stop completely they hit a button to put out the arm and start the red lights.
Although the yellow lights are supposed to warn oncoming drivers that they need to stop, the superintendent of Culver Community Schools Karen Shuman says she’s heard reports of people pulling around buses before the arm can come up. This potentially puts children attempting to board the bus, the driver of the passing vehicle and others on the road in danger.
Motorists in areas where there are frequent bus stops should be aware of this new design and understand that yellow means slow down, not go around.
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
The new design of many school buses is causing some concerns about safety. A feature that was installed to give drivers more warning that children are in the area and the bus is about to stop is not being heeded.
In the past, when a bus would stop the arm would come out and the red lights would flash in unison. Now buses feature flashing yellow lights while the driver is coming to a stop, and once they stop completely they hit a button to put out the arm and start the red lights.
Although the yellow lights are supposed to warn oncoming drivers that they need to stop, the superintendent of Culver Community Schools Karen Shuman says she’s heard reports of people pulling around buses before the arm can come up. This potentially puts children attempting to board the bus, the driver of the passing vehicle and others on the road in danger.
Motorists in areas where there are frequent bus stops should be aware of this new design and understand that yellow means slow down, not go around.
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