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District praises bus driver who delivered students safely after power pole fell on bus; board discusses custodial staffing and work orders
Summary
Halifax County school leaders commended bus driver Deborah Elliott for safely delivering students after a storm-downed power pole hit her bus. The meeting also covered custodial staffing, work‑order tracking and volunteer background checks for use of new facilities.
Board members at a Halifax County Public Schools meeting praised a bus driver who was involved in a storm‑related crash in which a power pole fell onto her vehicle after she had dropped students at their stops. Officials said the driver, identified as Deborah Elliott, delivered students safely and was not seriously injured.
Speakers at the meeting described the incident as frightening and said first responders and district transportation staff assisted at the scene. One board speaker quoted Elliott as saying, “Can somebody bring me another bus so I can pick my children up tomorrow,” and the board offered public thanks for her actions and for the district transportation and first‑responder teams.
The meeting also included facilities and operations updates. Board members asked for a division‑wide work‑order report showing outstanding jobs, turnaround times and the number of completed tasks per month; they said they expected that report in a future meeting. Facilities staff said some furniture from the old high school was repurposed for rooms in the new building and that other items are being sold online. Board members raised custodial concerns tied to the new facility’s larger spaces and wide corridors, urging that janitorial staff be equipped with the appropriate tools and that staffing schedules account for evening events and rentals.
Officials also noted that the district has a volunteer form tied to background checks; the meeting description said the volunteer background‑check fee has been removed and that completed forms can be filed at central office. District staff reported that the rental and background systems have been tested in limited use and are expected to be more heavily used as the high school becomes available for community rentals.
No formal board action was taken during the discussion recorded in the transcript. District staff said they will return with a work‑order report and continue to monitor custodial supplies and staffing needs as facility use increases.
