…FROM LAWRENCE COUNTY SCHOOL SUPT. KATIE WEBB
The Wheels on the Bus…
When I think back to the years I spent in Lawrence County Schools as a student I wonder how many hours I spent riding the bus–45 minutes each way–every day. It was a part of my daily routine I didn’t give much thought to in the 1980s. But now, as school superintendent, I realize how crucial that daily journey is for our students and the overall functioning of the school district. When you see a Lawrence County bus roll by it may seem like a simple part of the school day, but behind the scenes there is a large amount of planning, collaboration, and attention to safety for our kids and community.
Since the beginning of the school year I have made it a point to ride a morning bus route at least once per month. I want to see for myself what our kids, bus drivers, and bus monitors go through every day in different parts of Lawrence County. It’s also given me the opportunity to see firsthand how our staff is committed to providing safe transportation while traveling through busy intersections, up narrow county roads, and tight schedules. Lawrence County school buses travel over 3,000 miles each school day, covering 35 routes to get our students to and from school. That means in 1 school year (170 days for kids) our buses travel a combined half million miles picking kids up in the mornings and taking them home from school in the afternoons.
Additionally, each of our 6 Lawrence County schools has frequent extracurricular events or field trips that require bus travel. Not a day goes by (including weekends) without an LC bus taking a group of our students to and from a ballgame or field trip. These outside the classroom learning opportunities would not be possible without the men and women in our transportation department.
Each bus is equipped with a certified commercial license driver, as well as a bus monitor. There are also substitute bus drivers and monitors ready to step in when called. In addition there is a support team of mechanics, assistants, and our transportation director that make sure the bus fleet is running, repaired, personnel are trained,and buses are scheduled. These professionals undergo extensive training and have specific requirements they must meet in order to perform their roles.
Our district’s work can not go on without our transportation department, who are essential members of our school community. We are deeply grateful for their efforts, but know they cannot do it alone. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in joining our transportation team please reach out to LC Schools at 606-638-9671 for more information.
