Safety is top priority for local schools

School is back in session and student safety is a top priority for local districts, particularly when it comes to transportation to and from school.

Summer break is often used as a time for teachers and administrators to prepare for the upcoming year, but local district's transportation departments spent the summer making sure each student would make it to school and back home safe and sound.

"We're constantly training," Carolyn Barnes, Blytheville Public Schools director of transportation said. "That's because safety is and always will be our No. 1 priority here."

Over the summer, Barnes and a few members her crew attended state-mandated classes designed to inform them of any new laws or any changes in existing laws. The district also held its own bus drivers workshop to make sure everyone received training on the new laws as well as a refresher on other safety rules and procedures.

Barnes said the workshop was especially important this year because of the new bus routes.

"I've had to re-route a lot of buses this year because of the consolidation," Barnes said. "I also survey the routes and go over that with my drivers throughout the year -- things like construction or bad roads due to weather."

Gosnell bus drivers went through training and retraining over the summer, according to Superintendent Bonard Mace, who said safety is absolutely a top priority for the district, which is working to avoid any incidents like the one that occurred last year when a student was dragged by a bus.

"We have sent all our bus drivers to annual training and retraining. We have reiterated the safety of each student to all bus drivers, watching during loading and unloaded is a crucial place of student safety," Mace said. "Locally we have promoted the statewide 'Flashing Red, Kids Ahead' initiative as well as enforcing the local laws against speeding in and around the school. We also put bus safety on the district marquee. We remind all other drivers to watch for school buses -- you do not pass while the bus has its red lights on. Teachers are walking students to the bus in the afternoons and parents must bring in a signed note if students are to change buses."

Mace said the district is also making some major changes this year to its pickup/drop-off procedures for elementary students. This year all students must be picked up and dropped off in the "car line" which runs in front of the elementary school. Elementary Principal Angie Middleton said each car must have the child's name displayed with signs the school is providing.

Gosnell Elementary School is also implementing a new ID badge system this year. All students and teachers will be required to wear their badges at all times. The badges will be kept in the students' classroom to prevent students from leaving them at home. Identification will also be required for anyone signing out a student, or for any visitors. Visitors will leave their ID in the office in exchange for a visitor's badge while on campus.

"Change is difficult, but it's all for the safety of each child at our school and it is worth it," Middleton said.

cpinkard@blythevillecourier.com