April 22, 2020
Improving Student Safety on the School Bus
Industry:
Solution:

- Reporting responsibilities.
- Best practices for managing students and student behavior.
- How to defuse crisis situations.
- Better knowledge of community and social issues.
- Get to know the students on your bus. “By getting to know your students and creating a safe space where they feel you are truly interested in them as individuals, they are more open to sharing potential concerns and are also more likely to comply with school bus rules,” said Spittler.
- Be on the lookout for positive behavior as well as negative behavior. While it’s important to scan for harmful behavior such as bullying, it’s also important to acknowledge positive behavior from students (stepping in when someone is getting bullied, helping a younger student with their backpack, etc.).
- Utilize anonymous tip boxes or an anonymous reporting system. A school bus is an extension of the school, so make sure your students are aware that they can also report safety concerns that occur on the school bus. Spittler emphasizes, “Make sure you’re always checking it, keeping it confidential and following through with them.”
How SafeSchools Can Help
Our SafeSchools Online Training System offers a suite of transportation-related courses. Staff can complete training on their own time, from any web-enabled device. Track group training as well with our Offline Training Tool! We’ve partnered with the School Bus Safety Company (SBSC), the #1 provider of specialized school bus safety training, to deliver their expert-authored courses online through SafeSchools Training. Proven to reduce accidents by nearly 50%, these engaging courses include key practices that every bus driver should know to keep your students safe! Course categories include:- Bullying Prevention
- Driver Training Course
- Training for CDL Written Test
- Transporting Students with Special Needs