Crestview bus drivers hone skills at South Range event

COLUMBIANA -- Local bus drivers were given the chance to hone their safety skills during an event hosted at South Range Schools this month.

Crestview School District Transportation Supervisor Annette VanHorn provided an overview of the event to the Crestview Board of Education during its regular meeting.

VanHorn said the Safety Day was an "eye opening experience" that helped drivers learn exactly how to respond in various instances.

For example, bus drivers were given a demonstration on what to do if a bus were to overturn on its side and how to properly get students out safety.

The Beaver Township Fire Department assisted with demonstrations, which included having an unmanned actual school bus on its side.

"They had a bus on its side to show us how it would be to get our students out and showed us the tools that could be used. A lot of information to be learned," VanHorn said.

She also said the drivers were presented with two school buses and tasked with finding 10 things wrong during a simulated bus inspection.

There were also stations set up for bus maneuvers.

"I was very pleased with this event and hope to continue to do events like this in the future with my bus drivers," VanHorn said.

VanHorn also said in her report to the board that the district will continue 13 routes this year.

"We have started off this school year very busy in the transportation department. We are transporting to several different schools this year," she said.

Additional transports include morning and evening routes to CBC in Poland, morning and evening routes to Reach for the Starts, and morning, afternoon and evening routes at the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center and morning and evening routes at the Opportunity Center.

VanHorn said Crestview bus drivers have transported students for 22 high school fall sporting events and six middle school sporting events for a combined total of 1,052 miles traveled.

"Fuel prices are up this year in the bidding. We are paying around $ 4.20 a gallon for diesel fuel and $3.20 a gallon for gas," she said.