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Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

The Board of Education is committed to safety as a top priority in their commitment to student well-being in the 2024-2025 District Strategic Plan.

From October 21–25, 2024, school districts across the country observe School Bus Safety Week. The week aims to raise awareness and remind parents and community members of the importance of student safety on and around school buses and public transportation. 

The Kamloops-Thompson School operates one of the largest student transportation systems within the province—transporting approximately 4,700 students on 84 different school buses and travelling 9,100 kms per day. On average, the District’s Transportation Department also coordinates 3,700 field trips throughout the year, including 132 to Isobel Lake and the McQueen Lake Environmental Centre.

“Student safety is the top priority of our school bus drivers,” shares Sherry Kristjanson, Transportation Director. “Every member of the Transportation Department works hard to ensure that students arrive to and from school safely every school day.”

Every year, the Transportation Department provides School Bus Safety Training in all elementary schools to ensure that the youngest riders are aware of the safety aspects and behaviour expected while riding the bus. Assistant Transportation Manager Stephen Clarke provides an educational session to Kindergarten students in each elementary school, outlining training that is specific to school bus safety, how to ride the bus, and danger zones. Older elementary students who ride the school bus are provided yearly refresher training by their regular drivers starting in early September.

For the larger community, School Bus Safety Week emphasizes the importance of drivers coming to a complete stop when they approach a school bus with an extended stop arm and flashing red lights. It’s the law in British Columbia that drivers must stop if they see red lights flashing on a school bus. When the school bus’ overhead lights are flashing yellow, drivers should be aware that the bus will stop soon to pick up and drop off students.

This powerful 30-second video serves as a reminder that we all share a responsibility in student safety: .