Submitted photoState School Superintendent Richard Woods presents Pupil Transportation Safety Award to Thomas County Schools Transportation Coordinator Robert Young.

Each year, nearly one million students and their parents rely on Georgia’s school buses — and the professionals who operate them — to provide safe and dependable transportation to and from school.

To emphasize the importance of safe school buses and recognize pupil transportation professionals, State School Superintendent Richard Woods has announced the winners of the Georgia Department of Education’s second annual Pupil Transportation Safety Awards. The Thomas County School System is one of 16 Georgia school systems recognized for going above and beyond to ensure safe and efficient student transportation. The award is sponsored by Blue Bird, Georgia’s school bus manufacturer, and Yancey Bus Sales & Service.

“So much has to happen to make our school buses as safe as possible for our students,” Thomas County’s Associate Superintendent for Student Services Scott James said. “The fact that the Transportation Department for Thomas County Schools received this statewide recognition says quite a lot about the extent to which we go to keep our students safe. The award is a result of a complete team effort including the administrative staff, training department, service department, and of course the drivers who take care of the students every day. This is just one more example of why Thomas County is a premier school system in Georgia.”

Thomas County Schools received the Blue Award after being evaluated on a number of factors that impact bus safety. Those factors included but are not limited to: completing safety training, evacuation drills, and other safety initiatives with students; evaluation of accidents and internal practices to prevent accidents; and innovative initiatives used to inspire safe practices, hire and retain drivers, and enhance student safety.

According to the Georgia DOE, as a Blue Award Winner, “Thomas County Schools works hard to hire and retain bus drivers, monitors, and technicians by attending local job fairs, providing free CDL training, and using the local newspaper and media for advertisement. Safety is taken seriously, going beyond the mandates of federal and state law; drivers, monitors, and students receive additional safety training during each school year. This emphasis on safety is formalized through three safety meetings held each school year, in addition to the required GaDOE Annual Safety Meeting. The school system has invested resources to establish a driver training department and hire a full-time driver trainer; this training team has created pre- and post-trip videos for driver training.”

“I am thankful for our transportation team and the efforts that all of our staff members put into making our Transportation Department eligible to receive this award,” said transportation coordinator Robert Young. “A lot goes into making sure that our students’ safety is top priority. Receiving this award shows the hard work and dedication of our bus monitors, bus drivers, training staff, office staff, bus shop staff and the leadership of Thomas County Schools in making our system a top tier school system in the State of Georgia. I am thankful to be able to work with such a great group of people.”

Winners were selected in eight divisions based on enrollment size, and the winning districts were selected by a panel of judges.

“Our pupil transportation professionals are entrusted with precious cargo, and work incredibly hard each day to make sure Georgia’s students arrive at school safe and ready to learn,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “These 16 districts are going above and beyond to ensure student safety and recognize the school bus as an extension of the overall climate and culture of a school. I thank them for their efforts and commend them for their work.”