Weekly Transportation Update: Part 3

For many students, their bus driver is the first friendly face they see in the morning and the last one they see before heading home. That's a big responsibility, and it's one we don't take lightly.

Every First Student driver completes a thorough screening, licensing, and training process before transporting students. Their training includes classroom instruction, behind-the-wheel experience, student loading and unloading procedures, railroad crossings, emergency evacuations, and student management.

The learning doesn't stop there. Our drivers participate in ongoing training and safety meetings throughout the year to keep their skills sharp and their focus on safety strong.

Our drivers are parents, grandparents, or community members right here in the North Bend area. They understand the trust families place in them each day, and they take that responsibility personally.

If you see your student's driver, give them a wave! 👋

As our new routes begin operating, North Bend School District and First Student will be closely monitoring how the transportation system works with students actually on board.

One of the most consistent requests we heard from families last year was to reduce the amount of time students spend riding the bus. That feedback was an important part of our work this summer as routes were redesigned.

Now we get to see those plans in action.

During these first weeks, the District and First Student will monitor ridership, actual travel times, bus stops, loading and unloading, and overall route efficiency. 

Where adjustments can improve the experience for students and families, we will work with First Student to make them.

We also ask for a little patience during these opening days. A route on paper and a route with students boarding, traffic moving, and school arrival occurring in real time can look different. That is why monitoring and adjusting are an important part of opening the year.

Information on bus rules, routes, and walk zones can be found at: https://www.nbend.k12.or.us/9765 

Our goals remain simple: keep students safe, provide reliable service, and minimize the amount of time students spend on the bus whenever possible.

Last week, we shared that Hesper had traveled all the way to Roseburg to stand guard over our new bus fleet and make sure everyone made it safely to North Bend.

Our new buses arrived safely at the First Student bus yard, with a little help from our North Bend Police and Fire Departments, and Hesper has now returned safely to his regular post at Bulldog Legacy Plaza.

Apparently, escorting an entire fleet of school buses is all in a day's work for a Bulldog. 🐾🚌

Thank you to everyone who helped welcome our new fleet to North Bend. It was a fun way to celebrate a major investment in safe, reliable transportation for our students.

Next week: We'll wrap up our series by talking about the bright yellow safety vests you've been seeing and bus tracking on your smartphone. 🚌

#FirstStudent #NorthBend #SchoolBusSafety #FocusOnSafety 🚌💛