Gwinnett schools honored for school bus safety

Getting 130,000 students to and from school is no easy task. Gwinnett County Public Schools proved its commitment to safety when it received state recognition.

The transportation department was recently presented with a Green Ribbon for School Safety Award at the annual Georgia Association of Pupil Transportation meeting last month on Jekyll Island.

In announcing Gwinnett as a Green Award Winner in Division 8 (districts with a full-time student enrollment above 20,000), the state highlighted Gwinnett’s training program, its use of puppets to deliver school bus safety training to students with special needs and its recruitment efforts.

“A number of years ago the Pupil Transportation Safety Institute reported Gwinnett as one of the top five providers in the United States. This recent recognition confirms that we continue to do the right things for the students of Gwinnett County,” said Don Moore, executive director of Gwinnett schools transportation. “Our training consists of more than 120 hours that occurs before a driver can transport a student. In addition, after their initial training, our drivers receive continuous education each month and they also are required to pass an annual driver proficiency test.”

Other safety precautions include annual physicals and random drug tests to ensure they are fit for duty.

The state honored 16 school districts in eight divisions based on enrollment size. Winning factors included:

completing safety training, evacuation drills and other safety initiatives with students;
evaluation of accidents and internal practices to prevent accidents;
and innovative initiatives used to inspire safe practices, hire and retain drivers, and enhance student safety.

Gwinnett has three more bus driver job fairs this summer:

1-4 p.m. Tuesday, July 9 at Archer High, 2255 New Hope Road, Lawrenceville

1-4 p.m. Thursday, July 11 at Meadowcreek High, 4455 Steve Reynolds Blvd., Norcross

8 a.m. - noon Saturday, July 13 at J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center, 437 Old Peachtree Road NW, Suwanee

Information: GCPSjobs.org

About the Author

Arlinda Smith Broady

A Midwesterner by birth, but a Southerner by heritage, Arlinda Smith Broady has a combination of solid values, easy-going charm and unrelenting thirst for knowledge that makes her a not only a dedicated journalist, but a compassionate community member. She seeks truth and justice, but is just as eager to spread good news and share a witty story.

Fulton to close two elementary schools despite parent protests

Spalding Drive Elementary School in Sandy Springs and Parklane Elementary in East Point will close at the end of the school year. Students will be rezoned to other schools.