WORTHINGTON -- On any given school day, approximately 1,800 District 518 students will ride a bus to and from school. It takes many teachers, school administrators, students, transportation staff and parents working together to make sure this trip is a safe and pleasant one.
Each fall, all District 518 students in grades K-10 participate in age appropriate bus safety training. Teachers and bus drivers spend time explaining numerous bus safety facts including how to safely evacuate a bus, the safety zones surrounding the bus, the correct way to cross the street, and the behavioral expectations while waiting for and riding the bus. This instruction is the foundation for developing a safe and positive atmosphere on our busses.
Parents and guardians are valuable instructors in bus safety as well. We ask that they be responsible for becoming familiar with school district rules, policies, and regulations concerning school bus safety. It is important that caregivers review these expectations with their children and reinforce what is taught in school. Parents are also encouraged to communicate concerns to the school. Communication between the school, parents, and transportation staff is vital in maintaining a safe environment on the school busses, especially when students are not meeting the expectations that have been set. Parental input is highly valued and necessary to help keep our students safe.
Our goal is to work together to ensure a positive school bus experience for all District 518 students. When the established rules are followed and regulations are implemented our students are able to safely ride the bus to school and back home again.
Josh Noble is assistant principal at Prairie Elementary.
