The Eyes and Ears of the Community

Bad Weather

On Sunday morning, Mother Nature howled a bit and dumped eight inches of snow on the ground.  For awhile Marion County was under a Department of Homeland Security travel warning.  However, at the end of the storm, warmer air moved in.

Still, overnight the temperatures fell, leading to re-freezing on the roadways.  This led to another two-hour delay for Monday morning.  It's nice to get the day off slowly, but it does compress the rest of the day, making it feel hectic.

Eyes and Ears

One thing school bus drivers do for which they rarely get credit is to serve as spotters for first responders. On several occasions Monday, it was our school bus drivers who saw cars slide off the road on icy patches.  They would radio me, and I would then call the 911 Call Center to report it.

Our drivers are really good about knowing their territory, and they do not hesitate to let us know if they see something out of the ordinary.  Along these lines, the drivers have done something which has made me very proud, while at the same time taking a giant step forward in keeping our children, and our community, safe.

Several weeks back, I informed the drivers of The First Observer Program, through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).  The First Observer™ Program provides knowledge to transportation professionals that allow them to observe, assess and report suspicious individuals, vehicles, packages, and objects.  It also teaches them to share security-related information with the proper authorities; andgives them the basics of terrorism planning and preparedness.

 

After watching three short videos, totaling 45 minutes, the driver receives a certificate of completion.  This is done entirely on the driver's own time, with no compensation.  When drivers let me know they had completed the training, I printed them a certificate which I then posted on the wall by the time clock.  As of Monday, well over half of my personnel had completed the training, including substitute drivers and bus aides.  To say I am proud would be an understatement!

I rest easier knowing that my fleet is crewed by alert, caring professionals.