Fulton County Schools was among the winners of the inaugural Pupil Transportation Safety Awards, which recognize school districts for going above and beyond for school bus safety.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our children, and making sure they can travel safely and arrive at school ready to learn,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said in a press release. “Our drivers and transportation employees work harder than many ever realize, and they’re an integral part of our educational system.”
The awards were implemented to place emphasis on school bus safety. Eight districts won their individual divisions, grouped by size. Fulton won for districts across the state with more than 17,000 riders.
Other winners include Jenkins, Jasper, Chattooga, Washington, Pickens, Jackson and Catoosa.
Fulton has close to 800 buses traveling more than 7.5 million miles annually, district officials said, making it one of the largest transportation systems in the state.
"We're proud to go above and beyond in our safety requirements," Sam Ham, executive director for Fulton County Schools' transportation department, said in a district press release. "We exceed the required state training with additional classroom and on-the-road training, and all drivers must pass a criminal background check, have an annual physical, become CPR and first aid certified, and participate in a defensive driving course."
District officials said the drivers use a Positive Behavior Intervention and Support protocols to keep buses safe and students behaving well. A pilot program at four schools has bus roofs filled with magnetized words, to help with the district’s strategic goal of increasing the number of students reading at or above third-grade reading level. Last year, the district became the first in the state to place three-point safety belts in larger school buses.
Officials said drivers there also are subject to new hire and random drug and alcohol testing, as well as monthly driving records reviews.
A transportation fair is being held on June 26 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. in the Westlake High School cafeteria, at 2400 Union Road SW in South Fulton. The district is seeking bus drivers and monitors for positions throughout the district. Click here for more information.
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