March 28, 2024

Buses back on the roads

Schools starts Tuesday in Newton

When students in the Newton Community School District return to classes on Tuesday, it will also mark the return of school buses to the roads. More vehicles on the road, means drivers should exercise more caution behind the wheel.

According to Curt Roorda, NCSD transportation supervisor, 1,435 students will be riding buses this school year along 21 regular routes. With that many students commuting, Roorda has a few tips drivers can use to keep themselves and children safe.

“If you see a bus, just be alert for kids,” Roorda said. “Be watching for buses, be watching for their warning lights to come on. Please obey, start slowing down and get ready to stop.”

Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s National Center for Statistics indicates that on average, eight school-age pedestrians are killed by school transportation vehicles (school buses and non-school-bus vehicles used as school buses) each year, and four are killed by other vehicles involved in school-bus-related crashes. More school-age pedestrians have been killed from 7 to 8 a.m. and from 3 to 4 p.m. than any other times of day.

For drivers, Roorda said there are several areas where there is heavy congestion of students and buses they should look out for. There are four stops up on First Street North; two stops on West Fourth Street North; one at Hunters Run Apartments on South 13th Avenue East;  two stops on First Avenue West in Lambs Grove; two stops at South 12th Avenue West and West 16th Street South; and the Lincoln Park stop on South Fourth Avenue East.

“Adjust accordingly. If people just adjust accordingly on their way to work, just be aware of your students if you see them on the way,” Roorda said.

In addition to helping keep both parties safe, Roorda cites that there are stiff penalties for drivers that don’t follow  school bus related traffic laws.

“(The fine) is almost $300 I think … and it could be time spent in jail if I’m not mistaken,” Roorda said.

Roorda is in his second year at the helm for the district, after previously serving in the same position for the Lynnville-Sully Community School District. In that time, he’s seen his fair of things, which is why he is adamant about safety and is taking steps to ensure his staff is just as cautious as he’s asking drivers to be.

He said that his drivers did a few training sessions with School Resource Officer Brian Foster during the last school year. On Aug. 6,  around 20 of his drivers —there are 28 total — attended a special day-long training sessions with a Missouri based company named Grey Ram Tactical.

“They came up and they went over what to do in different situations like bus hijacking, students or people in general with concealed weapons of any sort, some bullying issues and how to handle those situations in the morning,” Roorda said.

He said he felt this was very informative and beneficial for his staff.

Roorda said everything should ready for Tuesday and he and several other transportation staff members will be at Newton Senior High School this week to help students who transfer buses.

Contact Senior Staff Writer Ty Rushing at (641) 792-3121 Ext. 426 or trushing@newtondialynews.com