The Arkport Central School District joins school districts across the country in observing National School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 17-21. Celebrated annually during the third full week of October, School Bus Safety Week promotes school bus safety and is an opportunity for the Arkport school community to thank our transportation department for their professionalism and dedication to keeping our students safe.
Safety is job one for the Arkport transportation department
Each of the district’s drivers undergoes rigorous and continual training to earn a mandated commercial driver’s license (CDL). All drivers are subject to regular performance, drug and alcohol testing as well as yearly physical examinations. In addition, both school bus drivers and bus monitors are trained in First Aid and CPR, and receive a certification from the New York State Education Department.
This extensive training enables the Arkport transportation department to safely serve nearly 300 public and private school students, covering the 63.2 square-mile district. Over the course of a school year, the Arkport bus drivers skillfully travel a total of more than 102,000 miles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), students are 70 times more likely to get to school safely riding a school bus than by traveling by car. It’s the safest way for students to get to school. School buses are the safest way for students to get to school.
School bus safety is a community issue
As part of the Arkport school community, we all play a role in protecting our students; National School Bus Safety Week serves as a reminder for students, parents, teachers and the community to be safe while on a school bus or waiting for one, and especially while driving near one. The district reminds motorists to stop for school buses that are stopped with their red lights flashing and to be cautious around all school buses.
Please join us in thanking our driving team for their dedication to school bus safety: Robin, Pam, Terry, Jim, Sally, Porsha, Paula, Holly, Rob, JJ, Bill, Tim and Chuck!