Mesa Public Schools families,
Every morning, rain or shine, our bus drivers embark on their routes with one primary goal in mind – to transport our children safely to and from school. They are the first faces our students see in the morning and the last ones they bid farewell to at the end of the day. Their commitment to the well-being and comfort of our students is truly commendable. Next week (April 22-26) is Bus Driver Appreciation Week, and we want to take a moment to share some guidelines to help improve the experience for everyone.
Our bus drivers strive to know your student. Unfortunately, due to the bus driver shortage, they are often driving routes they may be unfamiliar with. This makes it difficult for everyone and we ask for patience and kindness when things don’t go as planned.
Help show your bus driver you appreciate them by encouraging your students to follow all bus procedures and proper behavior. This includes:
Boarding the bus one person at a time
Obeying the driver’s instructions
Talking quietly
Keeping the aisles clear
Not eating or drinking
Remaining seated until the bus comes to a complete stop
See more expectations of student riders in Student Conduct - School Buses.
Parents are expected to behave in a manner that supports and enhances our safe learning environment in and out of schools. This includes demonstrating positive behaviors such as:
Being kind
Caring for others
Speaking and acting respectfully
Listening actively
In an effort to increase efficiencies, Mesa Public Schools invested in a school bus safety program, SMARTtag. The system is intended to help keep students safe and provide parents with more real-time information on the status of the bus. The program is currently being piloted at three schools and will be implemented district-wide next year. Expect more information about this prior to the start of the 2024-25 school year. This program will be an asset to our drivers, helping them efficiently and effectively carry out their duties while increasing safety and security.
If you, or someone you know, would like to join our transportation department, we have positions open. Learn more at careers.mpsaz.org.
We are grateful for the service our bus drivers provide to our students, our families and our school community. Please take a moment to express your appreciation to our bus drivers during Bus Driver Appreciation Week, beginning April 22. Our school communities could not function without their care and hard work.
Thank you,
Dr. Andi Fourlis
Superintendent