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Transportation staff report conference takeaways aimed at improving safety and recruitment
Summary
District transportation staff recounted sessions and workshops they attended at a People of Transportation conference in Oklahoma, presenting plans to strengthen workplace culture, safety training, autism-aware practices, and social-media recruitment for drivers.
District transportation staff who attended the People of Transportation conference in Oklahoma reported back to the Cary CCSD 26 Board of Education on Dec. 16, laying out training, safety and recruitment steps they plan to adopt.
Tracy Joyner, a member of the district transportation staff, summarized workshops she attended, including presentation skills, operational safety, developing a safety program and strategies for transporting students with autism. "One of them is changing the workplace culture to a more positive culture to where people want to come work for district 26 in transportation," Joyner said.
Why it matters: the district and many others continue to face driver shortages and complex safety demands; staff said the conference emphasized practical, hands-on training (for example, simulated bus evacuations and seat-belt cutting) and strategies to recruit using social media and positive department recognition.
Details presented: staff described a plan to use self-assessments during leadership meetings, to create driver hands-on safety training (including bus evacuations timed to a 75-second goal and use of fog/smoke simulation), and to improve recruitment by using creative flyers and social-media outreach. Joyner showed a recruitment flyer and described local morale efforts such as an employee-of-the-month driver board and driver appreciation activities.
Assistant principal Doctor Rigg, who works directly with Deerpath drivers, said the reported practices already support student belonging and daily routines. "A sense of belonging doesn't start or stop at the door, and that's what we really try to live by," Rigg said, describing drivers' student recognition practices and small care packages for riders.
Next steps and community notes: staff said some of the conference courses lead to certifications and that administrators hope to continue sending staff to relevant events when the budget allows. The board and superintendent encouraged spreading the district's practices to other conferences and noted the department will host a transportation luncheon the coming Thursday for further morale-building.
Ending: the board thanked the transportation team for attending the conference and for returning practical ideas intended to boost safety, recruitment and student well-being on buses.
