Garrettford Elementary says walking school bus increased attendance and reduced lateness
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Summary
Garrettford Elementary Principal Alan Bridges and Assistant Principal Kelly Manzaridis told the board their grant-funded walking school bus increased average daily attendance from 95% to about 96–98% on program days and reduced lateness from roughly 5.7% to about 2.8%.
Garrettford Elementary Principal Alan Bridges and Assistant Principal Kelly Manzaridis presented the walking school bus program to the Upper Darby School District Board, saying the grant-funded initiative has strengthened community ties and produced measurable attendance gains.
Bridges said the program, funded through a grant from Upper Darby Arts and Education, was designed to foster belonging, improve attendance and reduce lateness. "Garrettford's average daily attendance is 95%, but on walking school bus days, that number rises to between 96–98%," Bridges said. He reported that average lateness fell from about 5.7% districtwide to roughly 2.8% during the warmer months when the walking school bus runs more frequently.
Students and staff described the program logistics: adult volunteers meet in the school lobby, don high-visibility vests and stop signs, then staff members disperse to neighborhood meeting points to escort children to school in supervised single-file groups with one adult at the front and one at the back. A student who spoke during the presentation said the program made walking to school feel safer and more fun, and another student said participants receive a small reward, called a "bucket buck," for taking part.
Bridges credited the school social worker with writing the grant and said the program helps teach safety and walking etiquette—"Let's look before we cross the street,"—and builds relationships among students who meet neighbors and classmates while walking. He also thanked Jason Taylor for producing a video accompanying the presentation and noted parent and home-and-school involvement had increased.
The walking school bus remains staffed by volunteers (teachers and staff who give about 30 minutes of morning time) and relies on the awarded grant to buy vests and stop signs. Bridges said families responded positively to a survey before program launch and that the program contributed to higher participation at home-and-school events.
The presentation concluded with video footage and student testimonials; no board action was required on the program during this meeting.
