Drivers are urged to be mindful of school bus traffic back on the roads, and to pay attention and follow the laws surrounding stopped school buses.
Jessica Webb
editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com
You can’t miss a big, yellow school bus, and soon this iconic image will be back on Swain County roads en masse when Swain students return to classes on Monday. Paying attention to the safety of its riders is a priority.
There are 22 bus routes in the system and about 700 students who ride the bus each day. Funding for the program is based on ridership. Regarding the benefits of students riding buses, Toby Burrell with the district says, “As far as the service it provides its very helpful in our community to parents who work and leave at different times and it does help with the congestion at the schools.”
For those who drive their kids to campus, Burrell said the district has done a good job of separating much of that traffic, but it’s still wise to drive slowly.
“It’s always in our drivers’ best interest to keep in mind there are little folks running around, especially at the beginning of the year when they don’t know where they’re supposed to go,” he said.
He also advises those driving to campus should follow the directions at the schools for pick-up traffic and be patient.
When it comes to buses on roadways, drivers need to heed stopped school bus signals.
“Every stopped school bus that gets passed, we turn that into the sheriff’s department automatically,” Burrell said, adding that every bus is equipped with video to capture information about those drivers.
Despite it being illegal to pass a stopped bus, Burrell said in Swain County, it happens on an average of once a week.
“If anybody sees that happen, look at the license plate number and report it,” he said. “We’re all about prosecuting to the full extend because they are putting children’s lives at danger.”
‘Driver shortage is real’
A week out from when school starts, Burrell said they are short on drivers and about five routes are uncovered. The real challenge comes in the afternoons, when many who work for the school system in other capacities are engaged in other activities, whether that be afterschool programs or coaching.
Burrell pointed out that even other larger counties in the state are experiencing a shortage. He was told Wake County is currently down 17 routes.
Swain Superintendent Mark Sale said “it’s important for the community to understand we have people doing multiple things. We have many people in the school system who work a day job at the buildings and drive a bus as well.”
As to the question of why prioritize those other activities over driving? Sale said there is a skills factor, where the staff is working where they can best benefit the students.
‘Here comes the bus’
One way the district is hoping to alleviate any headaches for parents surrounding bus schedules is through a new app called “Here Comes the Bus” that they can download on their phones. According to Burrell, this will provide real-time information for when buses will be at stops and if the bus number has changed.
“I suggest to parents to download that app to be able to communicate in real time,” he said.
Increased safety at the schools
Swain County Schools received funding from the Center for Safer School grant through NC Department of Instruction to make improvements on campus before the 2023-2024 school year.
“The biggest one is cameras installed at East and West Elementary,” Burrell said. “All the schools are now on the same camera system and we have more and better cameras.”
The district is thankful for the state legislators for continuing to support this grant funding that makes it possible for small districts like ours make its schools more secure.
The elementary schools also now have better intercom systems and outside door swipes to prevent teachers from having to prop doors open when they take students outside.
Also, there are new, digital radios for the buses that will also improve communication.
Burrell was also encouraged by the recent school board meeting where they toured the schools and said they have a good start on even more safety improvements for next year.