How a Nationwide School Bus Driver Shortage Affects Our Children. If you are unable to get your things together the night before, wake up earlier than you normally would so you do not run behind schedule. My child's bus is overcrowded. Approved. You may need to go to bed earlier or set your alarm clock for an earlier time. Being late in the morning is just one complication related to not having enough school bus drivers. School bus drivers are hard to staff in general. Or the parents are missing at drop off timea no-no for elementary-age children. Emphasize safety, not control, as the driving force behind bus rules. She currently resides outside of Boulder, Colorado and loves learning new things, hearing people's stories and traveling the globe. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. When it comes to anonymous reporting, Spittler also stressed the importance of semantics. However, if your kid doesnt let the driver know someone called them a name or hit them, then the driver may not realize there is an issue. Here are a few suggestions culled from our Principal Life Facebook group to help you deal with bus problems. Any "Lost & Found" item will be stored at the Transportation Department for a period of two weeks. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. "They have combined routes when possible and sought assistance from other contracted bus service providers who are willing to pick up selected routes, even if it is for a short duration. Drivers can be responsible for about 70 children at any given time, so its unrealistic to expect them to catch everything happening on the bus. students of expectations while riding school buses. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Develop the tech skills you need for work and life. It is very informative and you can help someone in need. She supplies baskets of books for students to read along the way. Driver pay has also gone up. Principals across the country are growing increasingly frustrated with the time and effort they put into resolving behavior issues that occur on the way to and from school. Choose a spot that you wont be able to reach from your bed, like a desk across the room or a far-away window sill. All rights reserved. Tell your child to walk on the sidewalk. % of people told us that this article helped them. Many drivers have left the school bus companies in order to drive for commercial bus companies. Having to drive kids to school and pick them up is a hardship for some families, especially if it would make parents late to work or miss work. The school bus is specially designed to protect kids Believe it or not, kids are safer taking the bus to school than when you drive them: The chances of getting in an accident are much. It is not intended to provide service to all neighborhoods due to financial limitations. Make sure bus riders and their families are informed and get it in writing. Why is There a School Bus Driver Shortage? Kids should always arrive at the bus stop at least 5 minutes early to avoid the A.M. panic. Thog Know Much Things. All rights reserved. Kids are also stuck at the end of the day, waiting for a bus, making them late getting home or for after-school activities and appointments. This. Regularly being late to school can take a toll on your attendance record and upset your parents and school administrators. Her writing focuses on politics, culture, relationships, and health. Coffee and tea arent the only beverages with caffeine in them. 22 things your school principal is secretly thinking. "Why not rotate which bus is late each day or choose all of the buses from one school, so that school can wait to begin teaching academics until all students have arrived?" 33 things your childs teacher wont tell you, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Use looks-like-sounds-like examples of good, safe bus riders. At the start of the school year, students and families are dealing with yet another round of school bus driver shortages. Yea but an administrator said they have a contract with the bus company to be there at 7:45 and we are always 7:55 or later. If your child doesn't like school or he hates riding the bus, missing the bus on purpose can be a good ploy. Its OK to sleep with a dim night light if you need one. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Last Updated: January 19, 2022 The buses will depart from SHS at 3:30pm and from the middle schools at 4:00pm. Set up chores for him to complete to pay off his debt. The kids won't be consequenced for lateness, the school will track the arrival times of that bus and chase it up. This is why you must stop for school buses, and dont attempt to pass. Since the sizes and weights of small school buses are closer to those of passenger cars and trucks, seat belts in those vehicles are necessary to provide occupant protection. in Communications from Le Moyne College. . How do I avoid being late when I have to rely on someone else who is late? Use an old-school alarm clock instead of your cell phone. Students use the same stop both in the . If your child is too young to walk by himself, follow him in your car. For example, if it takes 10 minutes to get to your bus stop from your house, leave by 7:45 am to catch the bus on time. She has written for well-known sites including POPSUGAR and Scary Mommy, among others. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Be sure to keep parents apprised of any issues. Amy has many close relatives and friends who are teachers, motivating her to learn and share as much as she can about campus security. If your child dislikes school, arriving late will be a reward rather than a consequence. NUMBER OF CARS THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS CURRENTLY RIDING ON ALL SCHOOL BUSES IN THE U.S. OCCUPANTS KILLED IN SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES FROM 2011-2020, 53 WERE DRIVERS AND 60 WERE PASSENGERS, Reducing the Illegal Passing of School Buses. Knowing that he'll have to stay late may motivate him to get up and out the door a little faster if his motivation in missing the bus was to get out of school. While it is difficult for bus drivers to get to know each passenger in-depth, particularly in larger school districts, Spittler urges bus drivers to adopt a commonly used classroom approach to getting to know students. Watch the clock as you get ready. "It would be a major problem if the bus schedules were affected.". Drivers should also be vigilant as children that arrive late might run on to the street unaware of the traffic. Thats beyond your control and squarely in their court. Hats off to the writer to bringing out such crucial tips especially during the beginning of the year. I've been in this situation before as an employee. Severe bus driver shortage leaves some California kids waiting at the bus stop. 2022. "I need my kids to get home on time so that I can drop them off at their dad's work, which is where they stay when I go to my bartending job," says Angelina, a San Francisco-based mom to two boys. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. The most dangerous points of the journey are when children get on and off the bus, potentially crossing a road in the process. If anyone in your family is still asleep, listen to music using headphones so you dont wake them up. If you plan on showering before school, try turning the water to cold for 30 seconds right before you get out to help wake you up. If you think your issue is your morning routine, time yourself and see how long it takes to get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, and make it out of the door. If you think your issue is your morning routine, time yourself and see how long it takes to get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, and make it out of the door. Have a talk with the chronically late person about how you're really trying to get to school on time and you need their help. Related: 9 Ways to Stop School Bus Bullying. Dealing with bus problems is definitely one of the most challenging parts of a school leaders job. You can then make adjustments to your schedule based on this. Repeatedly coming into school late might make students feel embarrassed or anxious as well. For example, if the bus picks you up at 8, plan on heading to the bus stop at 7:50 every morning. This way you have an extra 15 minutes in case you over sleep or something goes wrong. If you want to do everything you can to keep your vehicle running reliably and well for 10, 20, 30 years and beyond, I can help. A school climate expert provides three easy strategies school bus drivers can use to maintain order and respect on their bus. social media dos and donts for the classroom. 101 JFK Parkway | Short Hills, NJ | 07078 | (973) 921-5500. Many principals recommend getting personally involved. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. When the school bus arrives, your child should wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, the door opens, and the driver says its okay to get on or off. This article was co-authored by Csar de Len, M.Ed. In this video, Cheryl Spittler also discusses what schools should look for in bus drivers and the importance of implementing a Multi-tiered System of Support (MTSS) into school transportation. The school district had decided to choose one or two buses from various schools to run late. If you miss the bus, you can try to get a ride from your parents or a neighbor. By the end of the semester or definitely by the end of the school year, you should know something important or have some way to connect with each one of the students on your bus, she said. Spittler offered a handful of strategies bus drivers can use, including simple steps they can take on their own, to improve student safety during transportation while simultaneously creating a socially and emotionally safe environment. School districts have jurisdiction overand the responsibility ofcreating a safe corridor for students. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Next up, find out the 33 things your childs teacher wont tell you. Ahead of the new school year, visit the bus stop and show your child where to wait for the bus at least three giant steps (six feet) away from the curb. "I can come into work late every once in a while if there is an issue with my kids," says Angelina. Talk to your parents and develop a backup plan for when you miss the bus. bus. It might not even be your bus, it could be a different bus with another tech student. If you tend to sleep through your alarm, have multiple alarms that go off at different times. Just make sure the rest of the lights in your room are off. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. When Your Child Misses the Bus on Purpose. Say something like, "I wonder if there's something about the bus that makes you not want to ride it.". on the days he misses the bus. Ed Source. When youre finished with your homework, dont forget to put it in your backpack right away. It will get easier as you get used to riding the bus. 25 States Are Testing 4-Day School WeeksWill Yours Be Next? This is problematic because chronic tardiness has been linked to lower academic performance. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. For example, if you always oversleep and have a hard time getting out of bed, you may need to go to bed earlier. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? How Your Child Can Stay Safe in and Around the School Bus. They do have to drive, after all. Ideally, you should set your alarm for an hour to an hour and a half before you need to leave for school. Your child should arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus arrives. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/01\/Not-Miss-the-Bus-for-School-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Not-Miss-the-Bus-for-School-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/01\/Not-Miss-the-Bus-for-School-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid276106-v4-728px-Not-Miss-the-Bus-for-School-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":" License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a>
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