Buses Offered As Proof of Safety
State-of-the-art vehicles purchased amid allegationsBy ANNIE DIMMICK
Article Photos
MOUNDSVILLE - Amid allegations that school buses in Marshall County are not being operated safely, administrators are addressing the situation - and they say their new buses prove it.
According to Marshall County Schools Transportation Director Beth Bertram, five brand-new school buses with state-of-the-art safety features have been purchased.
The 2009 Blue Bird Vision models are now in the school system's garage, and they feature several safety features that address situations including students standing in the aisles, which recently has been reported by parents of students riding those buses.
With narrower aisles, higher, padded seats and much less room to allow anything other than sitting, Bertram said the new buses significantly reduce the risk of danger and have all state-mandated safety features.
"You're basically wedged in there for safety," Bertram said, adding that the seats also have extra padding.
Another safety feature on the buses is their angled hoods, which, when combined with an extendible safety bar that prevents students and pedestrians from getting too close to the front of the bus, allows the driver to see 12 feet ahead of the bumper. Both features are unique to this model.
Other features include better ventilation, advanced diagnostics tools for drivers and technicians and a Hendrickson front axle for better maneuverability.
The buses cost $78,000 each and were funded through money allotted to each county from the state, Bertram said.
At a Marshall County Board of Education meeting Sept. 9, some parents told board members they have witnessed students standing in the aisles or sitting on the laps of others in recent weeks due to overcrowding. While Bertram said some of the buses are at capacity, she added that the majority of them are not and overcrowding is not an issue. She said her department has seen more students riding buses this year due to changes in routes - a result of recent consolidations at schools that Bertram said have caused some transportation confusion.
When school started Aug. 26, many students were going to new schools because of construction at McNinch Elementary and the closing of Sanford and Park View elementaries. The former Sanford building is now known as McNinch I and houses students in first and second grades; the former Park View building is now known as McNinch II and houses pre-k and kindergarten students. These buildings are being utilized in this way while the McNinch building undergoes a $3.5 million renovation.
Central is now home to students in grades three through five who previously would have attended Central, Park View, Sanford and McNinch. Bertram, who has taught bus safety classes, said with many students going to school buildings they would not have normally attended, more students are riding different buses. She also said she gets many requests from parents to have their children ride different buses on certain days because they split time living with each parent or have to be taken to after-school programs.
"This disruption not only affected town buses, but also country buses," Bertram said. "I still have a real concern. When these kids keep swapping around, the drivers don't know their faces."
However, she noted that of the 72 buses that operated on the first day of school, 67 ran with absolutely no problems. She said that the drivers are committed to making sure every student gets where he or she is supposed to be safely, and she does not anticipate these same problems next year. "We've got a good system going here, and I am proud of it," Bertram said. "I know what the laws are and I practice them."
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Tenente61
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09-20-08 11:12 PM
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If it is performed properly, the person IS the smoke detector. Obviously the Fire Marshall is ok with it. The other alternative is to close the school until it is repaired.
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Mom2Four
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09-20-08 11:05 PM
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It is called a fire watch and is legal. ======== Just because something is legal, doesn't make it safe!
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Momma2Alex
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09-20-08 10:33 PM
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The new designs for the busses sound great, but I'm concerned about how the bus drivers negotiate the road. I've seen many drivers speeding and have been cut off by busses in this county more than once!
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Tenente61
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09-20-08 9:25 PM
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Mom2Four,,,,or pull a pull station to set off the system. It is called a fire watch and is legal.
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Melvin
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09-20-08 4:34 PM
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Bad, bad design. Smoke detectors in return lines can work. But some are not reliable. Also, you have to design your HVAC system to run slowly all the time, if that is your detection method. Then, if it does go off, you have to shut down so you don't fan the fire. Someone goofed. And, the adminstration at Martins Ferry isn't demanding a fix, unless they caused it.
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UNCOMMONSENSE
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09-20-08 2:48 PM
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Here's a bit of additional info about smoke alarms in schools. JM was built in 1969 and many changes in the Federal rules have changed since then. But, the brand new Martins Ferry school district buildings ALSO had a fire monitor setting at a desk in the middle of the hallway for the SAME purpose. What seems to be at issue is being able to set off a smoke detection sensor in the air return for the HVAC system. With tens of thousands of cubic feet of intake air, it would take a fairly large and smokey fire to put enough smoke into the HVAC system to set off the alarm. So while they have sprinklers, a central smoke detection system is what is needed to replace the "smoke" monitor in the hallway.
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wvforsale
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09-20-08 2:09 PM
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Mom2Four, no fire detectors at JM? How can that be? Should be a run on the county board office about that one!
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Mom2Four
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09-20-08 10:47 AM
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Marshall County doth protest too much. If they are so concerned about safety, why haven't there been any fire detectors at JM all year? Their meaning of fire dectectors is women who walk the halls every 15 minutes looking for fire or smoke. If they see any sign of a fire I guess they are supposed to run up and down the halls like the town crier yelling "Fire, fire!"
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