In an effort to develop stronger relationships within the community and create advocates for the district, Carroll County Schools has begun a program called District Ambassadors.
The Ambassadors include elected officials, business owners and parents of current Carroll County students. They met yesterday at the transportation office to learn the ins-and-outs. They will have six meetings during the year, each featuring a different department within the district.
“We’re going to share our story with you,” Carroll County Superintendent Casey Jaynes said. “We’re all team members in this big system. Now that you’re more informed, you can advocate for us.”
Carroll County Director of Transportation Dianna Dunn gave an overview of her department and Tim Crutcher discussed training requirements, testing, bus safety and showed videos of morning and afternoon bus inspections to the group.
“Imagine doing this every morning when it’s cold or raining,” Dunn said after the videos. She noted many potential drivers quit once they see how much goes into preparing to start a bus route. “A lot of people who come to drive a bus think you just show up and start driving,” she said. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Carroll County buses travel 500 miles a day and carry 1,100 students, which is 61% of the student population. These numbers do not include field trips, sporting events and other special trips drivers make. Buses also transport Carroll County students to iLEAD, JCTC and some co-op jobs if they are on the way to other stops.
The district currently has 12 drivers, which is a good number now that we use centralized pick-ups, according to Dunn. The department added 18 additional centralized pick-up spots this year and Dunn said she rarely hears complaints about the new method.
“It is a privilege to ride a bus,” Director of Operations Mark Willhoite told the Ambassadors, noting that safety violations are not tolerated and students will be banned from riding the bus if necessary. “These drivers really do a lot more than transport kids every day.” He noted the drivers are like watch dogs because they are the first people to encounter the children and can identify if they are having problems.
The Ambassadors will have their next meeting in October to discuss district operations.