Concerns about student safety on school buses caused two board of education members to stall what was expected to be quick approval of the final 2012-2013 budget. During a called meeting on Tuesday (July 31), the Barrow County school system’s board of education passed the district’s $89 million budget by a majority vote of 6-2. Board members Rickey Bailey and Will Dunn cast the ‘no’ votes after a pointed discussion related to how certain cost-saving measures in transportation impacts athletic coaches and students. Specifically, they questioned the ongoing training of coaches to drive buses to extracurricular sporting events, as well as the elimination this year of daily bus routes for middle and high school students who live within 1.5-miles of their schools.
For the full story, see the Aug. 1 issue of the Barrow Journal.
But let's take football for a more in-depth example. The coaches will be on Friday's driving to away games that don't start until 7:00 at the earliest. Already they will have worked 12 straight hours. Typically, high school football games do not end until 9:30-10:00. So after working for almost 15 hours, they are then responsible for safely bringing the students back to the school which sometimes isn'r until 11:30ish. Guys and gals, that is nearly a 17 hour workday. By the way, a lot of those football coaches also coach JV games the night before.
This is very dangerous, however, this is an accident can be avoided. If it were my child on that bus, I would not want to have them riding with someone who has worked for potentially 17 hours straight.
I wonder if the Transportation Director really believes this is a good idea. Oh yeah, I believe Creel brought the Transportation Director with her over from Houston County. Houston County does not have this policy.