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Granite School District superintendent rides bus routes, urges motorists to watch for students
Summary
During a morning ride-along on district routes, the Granite School District superintendent observed bus operations at Cottonwood High School and Lincoln Elementary and emphasized risks from distracted motorists and stop-arm violations, citing drivers' training experience.
The Granite School District superintendent rode a school bus on morning routes, including stops at Cottonwood High School and Lincoln Elementary School, to observe drivers and student pick-up and drop-off procedures and to urge motorists to take greater care around buses.
The ride-along highlighted recurring safety concerns around district buses, the superintendent said, including motorists striking buses and failing to stop for stop-arms. "Please, please, please, take the time, especially in school zones or when you see those big buses, know that there's kids around," the superintendent said.
The superintendent said he boarded a route that combines high school, junior high and elementary stops, spoke briefly with a student identified as Eddie Gonzales at the Cottonwood High stop, and observed a longtime driver who serves as a trainer. He said the trainer, a district bus driver with 17 years of experience, pointed out common risky behaviors he sees on routes, including motorists hitting buses and running stop signs. The superintendent said the trainer told him he emphasizes the kinds of safety behaviors he would want if he were sending his own children or grandchildren on a route.
District routing practices were described during the ride-along: many drivers handle multiple stops on a single run by sequencing a high school drop, then a junior high, then one or two elementary stops. The superintendent said the experience of being "up a little bit high" on the bus makes drivers aware of many distracting behaviors by other road users.
The superintendent also noted he will attend a graduation review for the class he encountered on the route. He said the ride-along was intended to let him "be where kids are at" and to learn directly from drivers about operating conditions and safety risks.
The superintendent's remarks came during an on-bus ride-along rather than a formal board meeting; no motions or formal board actions were taken during the recorded remarks.
