School Bus Drivers to Receive Special Training
The Cyr Foundation and the New York Association for Pupil Transportation will offer school bus drivers and attendants as well as school bus technicians a morning of training following the State association’s annual Road-eo Day.
On Sunday morning, all those who participated as contestants in the State Roadeo, the Special Needs Roadeo and the Tech-Mech Roadeo will be eligible to participate in three courses including:
(1) the new bullying-related course designed by the U.S. Education Department called “Creating a Positive Environment of the School Bus.” The course will be taught by Kathy Furneax of the Pupil Transportation Safety Institute (PTSI);
(2) the Transportation Security Administration’s sanctioned “First Observer” program will be instructed by First Observer’s Donald Howell. The course focuses drivers and others on their role in identifying suspicious behaviors that help law enforcement agencies in tracking terrorist or other dangerous activities;
(3) two new training programs designed by NYAPT as part of a grant program funded by NYSERDA and the US-EPA. The brief training modules delve into the issues of (a) idling of school buses and (b) alternate fuels and other emissions reduction measures. The programs will be taught by Kathy Furneaux of PTSI who wrote the courses for NYAPT.
NYAPT President David Christopher noted that “this is part of our overall strategy to bring more and better information and education to transportation team members up and down the line. It takes all of us to keep our kids safe and training is needed at all levels.”
Cyr Foundation President Karin Skarka suggested that “training programs such as these are consistent with the Foundation’s objectives and mission to provide education and awareness that contributes to student safety. We are proud to be able to be a part of this special program for the special people who participate in the Roadeo Day.”
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