SUBJECT: STUDENT SAFETY

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: (Insert name)

(Insert date) (Insert title)

Phone: (Insert phone number)

BCISD commends Laidlaw’s attentiveness to student safety

Safety procedures prevented a child

from being left on a school bus

(SEE EXAMPLE STORY BELOW)

Berrien Springs-Berrien County Intermediate School District (BCISD) would like to commend Laidlaw Educational Services, a company which provides educational transportation for BCISD students, for preventing a potential safety problem earlier today.

Thanks to Laidlaw’s strict safety procedures and attentive staff, a nine year old girl,along with her classmates were safely transported to school this morning. The child was riding a Laidlaw bus and was on her way to BerrienCountyIntermediateSchool District’s Blossomland Learning Center (BLC) when she decided she did not want to attend school. The young lady, instead of exiting the bus, chose to hide underneath one of the seats while other students were being assisted off of the vehicle.

Upon the bus’ arrival at Laidlaw’s TransportationCenter, less than one mile from BlossomlandLearningCenter, the driver performed the necessary safety checks (including a manual bus inspection) and found the student still hiding under the seat. Upon finding her, the driver followed protocol, and was able to return the student to BLC. At no time was the child left alone on the bus.

(Insert quote)“This is a prime example of how Laidlaw’s well-developed safety procedures continue to put our children first,” said BCISD Superintendent Jeff Siegel. “Laidlaw should be commended for ensuring that their staff fully understand and implement their safety standards each and every time they drive a bus. With these procedures in place, parents can rest assured that their children are in good hands.”

Environmental guidelines (the “No Idle Law”) preventdrivers from checking buses for remaining students until they are away from the school building. This precautionary step is taken to lessen the amount of diesel fumes being ventilated into school buildings, which may cause children and faculty to become ill. Since Laidlaw’s garage is a short distance from the school, the walk-through safety check is performed there.

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Superintendent’s Office • (Insert superintendent’s name here) • (Insert superintendent’s email address)

“Laidlaw has many systems in place to ensure the safety of students,” said Robert Rutkoski, General Manager at Laidlaw.“One of these systems is the Child Checkmate System. This system is an electronic device that forces the driver to the rear of the bus upon the unloading of students. This system ensures that an employee is at the rear of the bus searching for children as well as personal affects that may have been left on the bus.However, due to environmental issues at the school that prevent the idling of buses, the electronic system must be disengaged prior to the completion of the off-loading of children. For this reason Laidlaw has put in the redundant procedure of manually checking the vehicles upon return to the branch.”

Rutkoski also commented that Laidlaw has been the leading force in child safety and redundant measures such as the manual walk-through, in addition to the Child Checkmate System, are part of their safety initiative.

Laidlaw has been providing BCISD with educational transportation services for the past two years. They are also the largest school bus operator in North America, providing transportation for two million students each day.

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