FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2003

New transportation safety role demonstrates school boards’ commitment to bus safety
Three area school boards recently demonstrated their commitment to student safety by approving a new transportation safety officer position. The new position will be based out of Tri-Board Transportation Services in Napanee, with the three participating school boards sharing the financial responsibility.

The main responsibilities of the transportation safety officer include:

• Co-ordination and delivery of a ‘First Rider’ program to primary age students, and a bus evacuation program to all students
• Co-ordination and promotion of school bus safety through the installation of the Canadian AutomobileAssociation’s School Bus Monitor Program
• Preparation and distribution of safety communications
• Facilitation and co-ordination of ongoing safety programs for all school bus drivers
• Co-ordination of a School Bus Safety Committee made up of Tri-Board staff, school bus operators, local police and community safety organizations
• Liaison with boards, principals, and school bus operators on all safety issues

“We welcome this new position to our organization. Student safety is a priority for us and for the school boards we represent. The transportation safety officer will work with a variety of groups including principals, teachers, students, bus operators and police services, to ensure that school bus safety is practiced in our communities,” remarks Steve Wowk, manager at Tri-Board.

Funding for the position is possible as a result of grants announced by the Ministry of Education late last year. Ontario school boards will be given $2 per student to support bus safety training initiatives.

Tri-Board Transportation Services is a consortium—the only one of its kind in Ontario— between the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board, the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board, and the Limestone District School Board. Tri-Board Transportation Services provides student transportation services to all three boards within the counties of Frontenac, Hastings, Lennox and Addington, and Prince Edward. Each day, approximately 38,000 students are transported to 169 schools, on 708 buses travelling 97,000 kilometres, within a 16,000 square kilometre area.

For information, contact:

• BOB KOUBSKY, Superintendent of Finance & Business Services, Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic
  District School Board, (613) 354-6257, ext. 436
• ROGER RICHARD, Superintendent of Business Services, Limestone District School Board,
  (613) 544-6925, ext, 338
• CHRIS SALT, Superintendent of Operations and Human Resources, Hastings and Prince Edward
  District School Board, (613) 966-1170, ext 2281, or 1 800 267-4350
• STEVE WOWK, Manager, Tri-Board Transportation Services, 1 866 569-6638, ext. 324