March, 2013 Edition

Springtime Student Safety—It’s More Than Just Good Luck!

Ah, you can smell it in the change. Talk to your students, Changes to what you’ll see along air…..the fresh scent of and talk to the parents you your bus route are also common. springtime! meet in the afternoons so that Watch for children playing and small they can plan accordingly. animals. Look low for bicycles and March is always one of the skateboards or runaway toys (no best times of the year; the Some students may also need skateboards on the bus, please) and weather has started to to be reminded of proper look high for basketball hoops and change, the sun is brighter, conduct on a school bus, such hanging tree limbs. There may not the flowers are peeking out, as sitting down facing the front have been anything there before, and the days are getting in their assigned seats and no but there may be something there longer. eating or drinking on the bus. now. In subdivisions and on main They may also need a reminder roads, there may be different Sunny skies and longer days to be waiting at the bus stop in vehicles on the street. Look once, mean more time to play, and the morning, not running look twice, then look again while more time to play means toward the bus as it students are crossing. that your students will be approaches. The windows will anxious to get home, ditch be coming down soon, and it is These are just a few examples of the books and head outside important that children keep what you can expect, but one thing

after school. hands and heads inside the bus is for sure...spring has sprung and at all times for their safety and you will have to keep your EYES For bus drivers and bus for the safety of other open—especially the ones in the attendants, this means that motorists. back of your head— and your Inside this issue: it’s time to start following HANDS on the wheel at all times. your Springtime Student The energy level on a school Safety procedures! bus usually changes when the Springtime Student Safety is more Powered by Propane weather breaks, and it will than just good luck. It is leadership, 2 Many of your students will continue to rise as we get it is caring, it is absolute be staying after school for closer to year’s end. It is our dedication to the big Scholarships 3 sports, clubs or other job to be aware of the changes bus and to the activities, so there may be and harness that energy, so children in our care. fewer children to transport that the rides to and from Springtime Student Tips from the Training 3 and the drop-off times could school can be safe ones for all. Safety is YOU! Room

Stolen School Bus 3 Upcoming Calendar Events

Wearing or 4 Friday, March 1 — MAKE UP DAY Thursday, March 21—First Day of Spring Going Green? Monday, March 4— ―Get Active Get Fit‖ Friday, March 29 — No School; Teacher Workday Welcome Aboard 4 sign-ups begin. Contest starts 03/18. Sunday, March 31—Happy Easter! Wednesday, March 6—School Bus Illegal SCS Wins State 4 Passing Survey Training Award Monday, April 1 to Friday, April 5—Spring Break

Why the School Bus Sunday, March 10—Daylight Savings; change Friday, April 19 — No School; Teacher Workday Never Comes in 5 your clocks & check your smoke detectors Green Friday, April 19 — Relay for Life event @ SHS Friday, March 15 — MAKE UP DAY Irish Sayings O’ the 6 Tuesday, April 30 to Friday, May 10—School Bus Month Sunday, March 17—Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Evacuations, Split Door Page 2 Powered by Propane: Greener School Buses

School buses have traditionally been the Green Success Stories school district has been using the propane transportation of choice for public school buses since 1983, with great success and students across the country. These big While the idea of switching to propane or cost savings. Weber estimated that it took yellow vehicles have become a mainstay in another form of alternative fuel may sound the district about five years to recoup the both urban and suburban communities, good on paper, how does it stack up in expense of switching to the propane buses, offering students access to school campuses practical use? According to some of the including the cost of propane fuel pumps that might have difficulty getting to and from school districts across the country that have and retrofits. school otherwise. However, budget cuts, made the switch, the proof is in the pudding rising gas prices and concerns over – as well as the savings many of these Going green is one way school districts can their environmental impact have forced districts have enjoyed since converting their cut their budgets and help the environment many school districts to take another look buses. We have just a few examples of at the same time. While propane might not at the diesel-run buses that dominate most school districts that are going green with be the best solution in all school districts, school district today. In some cases, their student transportation options. the schools that have switched to propane- propane buses are providing a cheaper and powered school buses are enjoying more environmentally friendly option. significant savings and the satisfaction of a El Paso Schools reduced carbon footprint. With incentives The Cost of Diesel from the federal government, it may not be In Texas, eight El Paso-area school districts long before other districts nab the benefits have made the switch to propane, according propane offers. The expense of running children to and to a report at the Railroad Commission of from school on diesel buses is not a small Texas website. The project began with 16 one by any means. According to a report in ultra-low emission propane buses, but 56 Article by Grace Chen for the Christian Science Monitor, it is more have been added since the program Public School Review estimated that more than 25 million children began. The districts hope to continue to http://www.publicschoolreview.com/articles/287 ride the bus to school each day. In some expand their propane-based fleet by areas, year-round schooling means no replacing retiring buses with the newer respite from gas bills over the summer style. The press release reports that these Propane School Buses roll in months. As the number of children requiring buses have cut 14.6 tons of smog-forming Spotsylvania County too... bus transportation remains relatively NOx, 94 tons of carbon monoxide and one consistent, the cost of fuel does not. ton of particulate matter from the El Paso air. It is also estimated that each bus will Our first five propane buses were There are a number of reasons to consider save school districts more than $5,800 the purchased in 2010 with 50% of the propane buses over their diesel first year and $1,250 each year after. initial cost coming from a federal grant counterparts. First, many areas of the program. As part of the grant, a country offer propane filling stations that dedicated ―tank farm‖ was constructed Portland Schools are much cheaper than diesel fuel. A report here at the Transportation lot to fuel issued by the U.S. Department of Energy In Portland, Oregon, the school district the buses. A sixth bus was purchased also estimates that smaller propane tanks this year, and more may be added in the can be cheaper to fill than those holding received $600,000 in federal tax credits for future as older fleet buses are replaced. natural gas, and they are as equally friendly its propane-based buses in 2008. About 90% to the environment. The period between oil of this district's school buses run on changes for propane-run buses can also be propane currently. Phil Weber, Portland's The feedback we have had from the extended, further reducing the cost of director of transportation, told the community has been positive; the buses Christian Science Monitor, "I was not a operating these vehicles. are quiet, odorless and show that we believer in propane. But I crunched the care about our environment. numbers and propane does pay off." This Benefits of Propane Balloon Power...alternative fuel of the future? Cost is also a huge factor; on February Then, there are the government incentives 1st we paid $1.06 per gallon for to consider. In 2008, the federal propane bus fuel compared to $3.85 government appropriated $4.2 million for per gallon for diesel bus fuel (in Spotsy, reducing emissions from diesel engines. a one-cent rise in diesel fuel prices That means money could be available to translates into a $7,000 budget establish the necessary infrastructure for increase). Although miles per gallon is propane, including retrofitting or lower for propane buses than it is for purchasing new buses for this purpose. diesel buses, we anticipate over time School districts might also get a federal tax credit that offers 50 cents back on every that a savings will be realized. gallon of propane used throughout the year. Spotsy is GOING GREEN!

Craig Greenlaw, Director of Fleet Services says ―We’re so lucky to work with such professional drivers!‖

Page 3

2013 Scholarships Are Now Available Stay connected! Stay connected! 1. Clyde aka CLYDE W. MORRIS There are 3 different scholarship opportunities for the children or MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Please check your grandchildren of those 2. Buster aka BUSTER BYNUM GroupWise E-mail and EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP Employee Self Serve associated with Pupil accounts weekly for the Transportation in Virginia. Each 3. Sonny aka PUPIL latest news TRANSPORTATION SCHOLARSHIPS Scholarship for 2013 is valued at and info. (Available at VA Tech only)

$2500. In some cases more than Bookmark one person can be a winner. Criteria for each and other information to help you apply is your Driver and available online. For more Time is limited—applications Attendant information, visit www.VAPT.org webpage are due very soon! too!

Wellness Alert: Tips From the Training Room

Get Active—Get Fuel Cards are assigned to Ignition Keys are assigned to Fit Challenge „13 EACH BUS, not to EACH EACH DRIVER, not to EACH BUS. DRIVER. They should always Please take your key with you when kicks off on remain on the bus, inside the First you exit the bus...don’t worry, subs March 18th. Aid Kit. Please do not take cards will have their own key! But they Enrollment with you when you exit the bus, may not have a route sheet, so begins 03/04. and never use someone else’s always leave one onboard. Watch your e-mail for card to fuel your bus. If there is Why should you always more information on this no fuel card on the bus please take your key? Read the event coming soon. contact Tiffany at extension 1807. story below….

Stolen Knox County School Bus Found in Anderson County

A school bus that was Wednesday from the Knox County Schools Police have not stolen Wednesday driver's residence on spokesperson Melissa released any morning in East Prosser Road in East Copeland told 6 News additional details Knoxville was recovered Knoxville. Police do not the bus was discovered about the theft. later in the morning in have a description of the stolen before it was Anderson County. thief. The bus, number needed for transporting **Hmm...Do you 117, is used to transport students, so another bus think there was a A 72-passenger bus students to and from was brought into service. key left on the Knox County school bus Beaumont and Norwood The bus was later bus??** was reported stolen elementary schools and recovered in Anderson WATE-TV -Posted: around 7 a.m. Northwest Middle School. County. Feb 20, 2013 5:35 AM

SCS Office of Transportation Services—Transportation Times Newsletter—March, 2013 Edition Page 4

Will You Be Wearing Green or Going Green for St. Patty’s Day?

pollution and help save the  Get in the habit of brush-  Switch from paper and environment is based on ing your teeth with the plastic bags to reusable evidence that the decisions water off, and encourage bags and totes. we have made, and con- other family members to do so, as well.  Save stained or ill-fitting tinue to make, are damag- clothing to use for dusting  Recycle – junk mail, cell ing the air we breathe and and cleaning. This is great the land we live on. Since phones, paper products, for wiping down bus seats! you’re already thinking plastic bags, and more. Everywhere you turn you  Rent movies and borrow green this month, why not  Don’t purchase disposable are probably seeing and books, instead of purchas- take it a step further? water bottles, but rather hearing the following ing. Netflix and Block- Here are a few tips and use recyclable (and refilla- phrases: ―go green,‖ ―eco- buster make it easy by tricks to help you get ble) beverage containers friendly,‖ and delivering the flicks right started in living a green that you can fill with fil- ―environmentally con- lifestyle, both at home and to your door. scious.‖ The push, especially tered water. while on your school bus!  Many bus routes begin for Americans, to reduce  Buy groceries in bulk. before dawn and end after Purchase a membership to sundown; a good flashlight a wholesale club, such as can really come in handy Costco or BJ’s (discount Welcome Aboard! during a proper pre-trip memberships for BJ’s are or post-trip inspection. Lucky for us—our family MORE DRIVERS available. See Sean Clore keeps growing! Please join Kristie Davis Use rechargeable batteries us in welcoming the follow- for an application). -- Duracell now has a line Mary-Beth Doss ing new staff members….  Purchase locally produced of pre-charged recharge- Mark Gaines food at farmer’s markets Heather Hockaday able batteries. and even road-side stands. ATTENDANTS Bonnie Mangino  Try your hand at com- The Gordon Road Michele Burton posting (planting scraps LeVert Marshall Farmer’s Market opens Mason Perry Gerald Masello from fruits, veggies, and for the regular Saturday Candace Moreland coffee grounds outside), DRIVERS season on April 20th! Charity Pickett which will help create Emily Blodgett Susan Purks  Collect rain water to use better soil and less landfill Teresa Bobbitt Sandy Sancarranco for watering your plants waste. Jennifer Chewning and for washing the Marcel Southern Good Luck Going Green! wheels on your bus.

SCS Transportation Wins State Training Award The Transportation Department was recently APRIL recognized by Virginia Municipal League is Transportation’s (VML) Insurance Program for meeting the month to shine in goal of providing 90% or more of our entity the division-wide drivers with Defensive Driving Training. This program, called “Where the Rubber ―GET Meets the Road”, has been a part of the in-service training curriculum since 2011. SPOTTED” As a result of this achievement, Spotsylvania County Schools will receive a discount on its contest. Watch fleet insurance policy for all vehicles. your e-mail for more information Congratulations and special thanks to our and nomination SCS Transportation Training Trainers for all of their hard work making this forms coming soon. Department keeps us rolling! program a continuing success. Way to go! Page 5 Why the School Bus Never Comes in Green* A question came to mind as school bus Some administrators suggested drivers prepared to start their engines , white and , apparently on Wednesday on 7,700 public-school not to make the buses more routes in New York City and end their visible but to make the month-long strike: Why are most passengers more patriotic. school buses yellow? Why not some other ? Why not burnt sienna, like For his part, Frank Cyr a crayon? Why not light-medium robin's understood the importance of egg blue, like a jewelry box? Why not standardization. "For every magma orange, like a Lamborghini? different color," he recalled in 1989, "the bus companies had to The answer is Frank W. Cyr, a have different booths to spray- professor at Teachers College, paint them." Yellow was hard to Columbia University, who became miss, even in weather so bad known as the "father of the yellow your mother made you wear school bus" for research he led in the galoshes. But which yellow? This Frank W. Cyr at the wheel of a school bus in 1930s. Dr. Cyr, who died at 95 in 1995, is like asking what color is the Manhattan, in 1989, at an event to celebrate had traveled the country, surveying White House. "I remember as a the 50th year of the yellow school bus. pupil transportation in an era when kid, he had color samples," school buses cost $2,000 apiece but William Cyr said. "He had a desk differed widely from manufacturer to at home in his study and he would lay Other specifications adopted at the manufacturer and jurisdiction to the samples out across his desk and school-bus conference have been jurisdiction. Some states had safety look at them. He would talk about the revised over the years, but not the standards; some left the task to local samples as being orange. As I remember yellow, even though it is a relic from school districts. "In many cases, it, they were a gradation from orange before the eye-popping palettes of standards have been set up by more or over to a pale yellow." artists like Andy Warhol and Peter Max. less hit-and-miss methods," according to an account that Dr. Cyr oversaw. At the conference in 1939, he displayed "If they had to do it today, who knows if 50 , from a deep, it would be the same, because now they Then, in the spring of 1939, he called lemony yellow to a deep orange-red. He have brighter, more noticeable things," together educators, school bus recalled in 1989 that the group Mr. Riley said. "Think of the vests manufacturers and paint experts for a appointed a committee of education highway workers wear. Obviously, conference that approved the nation's officials to make the final color choice. they're even more noticeable than first school bus safety standards - 42 "The color they selected was and national school bus . But pages covering everything from axles, remains 'national school bus chrome,'" the rationale for maintaining that color batteries and emergency brakes to the said Bob Riley, executive director of the is its universal acceptance. We've all inside height of the passenger National Association of State Directors been born and raised knowing what that compartment to, yes, the color that the of Pupil Transportation Services. "I don't is." world saw outside. The standards were know why the word 'chrome' was in published in a booklet with a yellow there, but it has something to do with William Cyr said he remembered asking cover: the yellow was the color the the makeup of that paint." his father, "If you're the father of the group had chosen. yellow school bus, what does that make The most recent version of the me?" Frank Cyr had a ready answer: "They wanted a color that would stand standards, approved in 2010, calls the Anytime William saw a school bus, he out, that other drivers could see from a color "national school bus yellow," and could announce, "There goes one of my distance and that would be identified Mr. Riley said there is a specific formula brothers." with a school bus so whenever we saw for it. it, we'd think, there's a group of kids going someplace," said Frank Cyr's son, "I've seen it," he said, alluding to the New York Times (blog) - February 19, William. "Before that, they sent kids to formula. "We used to have it on our 2013, 6:18 pm By JAMES BARRON school in anything." Buses, trucks and Web site. I think we dropped it off the even horse-drawn wagons carried Web site because nobody ever asked schoolchildren in those days. Some for it." But, he added, "You can't buy a *The full title of this article is actually “Why buses were painted in drab . bus that doesn't meet that formula." the School Bus Never Comes in Red or Green”. IRISH SAYINGS O’ THE MONTH

A son is a son until he gets a wife, Leprechauns, castles, good luck and laughter a daughter is a daughter for all of her life. Lullabies, dreams, and love ever after. Poems and songs with pipes and drums A thousand welcomes when anyone comes. That's the Irish for you! - A happy heart is an open heart.

For each petal on the shamrock This brings a wish your way Good health, good luck, and happiness 'Tis better to buy a small bouquet For today and every day. And give to your friend this very day, Than a bushel of roses white and red May you always have To lay on his coffin after he's dead. Walls for the winds,

A roof for the rain,

Tea beside the fire, Laughter to cheer you, Those you love near you, And all your heart might desire! May your neighbors respect you, Troubles neglect you, The angels protect you, And Heaven accept you.

May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks. May your heart be as light as a song.

May each stayday bringwith youyou allbright, the year happy long. hours. That May the lilt of lush laughter lighten ever road, May the midst of Irish magic shorten every road. Erin Go Bragh May you taste the sweetest pleasures that fortune ever bestowed, And may all your friends remember

May the best day of your past Be the worst day of your future.

May you live as long as you want, And never want as long as you live.

Dance like no one were watching, These things I warmly wish to you- Sing as if no one were listening, Someone to love live each day as if it is your last. Some work to do A bit o' sun A bit o' cheer And a guardian angel always near.

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light, May your blessings outnumber May good luck pursue you each morning and night. The shamrocks that grow, And may trouble avoid you

Wherever you go.