Jackson bus fleet receives national award

Jackson School District has been recognized as one of the 10 best in the nation for bus safety.

School Bus Fleet magazine, which annually highlights the best school bus fleets in the United States, included Jackson in its January issue of "Great Fleets Across America 2007."

It's the first such award for Jackson. "It is kind of a once-in-a-lifetime award," said Carol Woods, the district's transportation director. "We are very proud."

The magazine reported that the Jackson school buses earned a 100 percent score in state inspections five times in the past eight years. The Missouri State Highway Patrol inspects school buses twice a year.

"All it takes is one light out and you don't get a perfect score," Woods said.

The magazine's listing identifies outstanding school bus fleets based on such things as safety, maintenance and efficiency.

The Jackson bus system, owned and operated by the district, stresses safety, the magazine noted. Practices to boost safety, efficiency and morale include a monthly safety meeting. Drivers are trained in CPR, first aid and wheelchair tie-downs, the magazine said.

During National School Bus Safety Week in October, drivers visit Jackson elementary schools to teach bus safety with presentations inside and outside the classroom. The presentations include short bus rides for the students along with instruction on how to exit the bus and safely cross a street.

The buses are equipped with surveillance cameras and transportation personnel ride some of the buses to monitor student behavior, school officials said.

The district has 68 buses, including spare vehicles. Fifty-four buses are used on the daily school routes in the largely rural district.

In all, the buses travel about 3,513 miles every school day, much of it on gravel roads. Woods said that amounts to more than 600,000 miles in a school year.

The district encompasses about 280 square miles. Its buses transport almost 3,000 students a day, said James Welker, assistant superintendent for finances and support services.

The bus fleet is operated by more than 70 full- and part-time employees, many of whom showed up at Tuesday night's school board meeting where Welker publicly praised the staff.

"I am so proud of what everyone does to keep all the students safe," Woods said.

The magazine's list includes both district-owned bus systems and bus fleets operated by private contractors.

Besides Jackson, the list includes B and B Transportation Inc. of Bethany, Conn.; the Durant, Okla., Independent School District; Jefferson County Public Schools in Lexington, Ky.; Messalonskee School District in Oakland, Maine; Oceanside Unified School District in Oceanside, Calif.; Orange County Public Schools in Orlando, Fla.; Queen Creek Unified School District in Queen Creek, Ariz.; South Panola School District in Batesville, Miss.; and Southwest Coaches Inc. in Marshall, Minn.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123