East Liverpool City Schools school bus drivers Tracey Hall and Kathleen Blake along with driver/mechanic Justin Tatsch are ready to transport students on the district’s school buses. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

EAST LIVERPOOL — Local school districts such as East Liverpool and Wellsville are wrapping up their back-to-school preparations and are prepared to start the new school year.

One area of the district which involves a lot of preparation is their transportation departments, which includes more than just getting the buses cleaned but also making sure they have enough buses and staff, and also making sure the buses are well maintained and staff is fully trained. Their is also work required to plan bus routes and transportation times and making sure young students riding buses for the first time know how to ride safely.

For the East Liverpool bus fleet, which will be ready to transport students on the first day of school Sept. 2, the fleet of 17 buses, covering 30 bus routes and four vans, still needs some minor work done such as oil changes and adjustment of brakes.

It is unknown at this date how many of the district’s 1,900 students will be riding buses.

The district actually has about 30 buses, but not all are being used. It is looking at downsizing the bus fleet and buying two new ones, Justin Tatsch, bus driver/bus mechanic, said.

Ramsey said the purchase of two new buses is supposed to be in the budget, but they haven’t gotten everything approved with the hang-up of all the budgetary stuff from the state.

“Other than that, they are mechanically sound, and they have all passed their inspections and are ready to go with the exception of two, but they are the two oldest buses on the fleet and are on the verge of being sold,” Tatsch said.

The buses being used are up to code and have passed state inspections from the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OHP) and the spare buses also passed that inspection and are safe for the students to be on, Ramsey said. He also noted that the inspections are done yearly and also undergo a spot check that is done throughout the year. The spot checks involve the OHP calling the district and telling them they will be there the next day to inspect so many buses to be sure the district is staying up on maintenance and not letting unsafe buses go out with students.

The district currently has 17 drivers but needs 18. They are currently looking to hire drivers and substitute drivers, according to Megan Hernandez, director of communications. Ramsey also noted there is always a need of sub drivers in case drivers are out sick. He said they currently have three subs but would feel comfortable if they had six or seven, especially for the after-school trips, field trips and athletic events.

Drivers are required to have a CDL-B and go through training

All the routes are covered with a driver, but the district has no subs to call in if needed, bus driver and cafeteria worker Tracey Hall said.

Routes are finalized but not assigned to drivers yet until the district has their bid day for drivers.

Hernandez noted that students can pick up their bus passes at several events being held by the district prior to the start of the school year, including the Back to School Bash on Aug. 25.

For the younger students who may be experiencing the school bus for the first time the district will hold a school bus safety week the second or third week of school where the drivers go to each elementary school in the district to instruct the students on the rules of riding the bus and how to be safe in and around the bus.

Bus Driver Kathleen Blake said parents can help instruct their youngsters on riding the bus by making sure they are taught to stay in their seats, don’t be up and walking around the bus and don’t crawl under the seats.

She noted that it is a big thing with kids crawling under the seats.

Hernandez noted that with the new state laws regarding cell phone usage in schools, students are allowed to be on the phones while on the bus. Once students get off the bus, phones are to be put away.

Blake noted that if there is an issue with phones on the bus such as loud music or other issues, those issues will be addressed case by case as they happen.

Robert (Moose) Ramsey, transportation director and former SRO at LaCroft, said parents can help get the new bus riders ready to ride by helping their children learn to be vigilant, learn, stay in their seats and pay attention to the drivers.

“The drivers are fully capable, and they are all about the safety of our students,” Ramsey said.

Hernandez and Ramsey both noted that the school bus drivers all the first and last impression of the district the students have each day, and the drivers are proud of what they do, and they love the students.

Wellsville Village Schools has four buses, two of which are new, and four drivers ready to roll on the district’s first day of school on Aug. 27.

Which Kyle Exline, bus coordinator, athletic director and assistant high school principal, said is a drastic improvement from past years when the district had two buses.

One new bus was purchased last year, and they are currently in the process of purchasing one now. Exline expects the board to approve it at the board meeting on Aug. 18.

The district lost a driver at the end of the last school year but was able to hire one over the summer.

Currently the district does not have any substitute drivers, but they are searching for a fifth driver that could potentially be used for that position. Exline noted that they do have some applicants but it’s a lengthy process to get a driver certified, approved and trained.

In addition to the four buses passing their mechanical inspections they have also had new radio systems installed for communication between drivers and all buses have been updated with cameras, which Exline said are pretty significant improvements.

Exline did not have the number of students on hand that the buses will transport but did note that between the three schools there is a good number of students that walk, but the buses also cover a good distance of travel in East Liverpool and between Southern and Beaver Local. He estimates approximately 300 students are bussed.

“We try our best to work with our community and get the students to school safely,” Exline said. “We do what we can to help.”

Exline advises parents of younger students to make sure their students know to follow the driver’s signals, look left and right, pay attention to their surroundings outside of the bus and when on the bus be on their best behavior and take care of one another.

Presently, there are no cell phone restrictions for students while on the school bus.

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com