School Bus Anti-Terrorism 101

MT.AIRY - School bus drivers from across North Georgia gathered at Habersham Central High School Wednesday to learn how to keep young passengers safe.

An estimated 600 drivers got tips on dealing with terrorism from John Cleveland, School Safety Division, Georgia Emergency Management Agency.

Cleveland, a former lawman, teacher and bus driver, taught them how to react to and recognize a terrorist threat.

"It was an overview of some possible terrorist activities," said Cleveland.

"It included disguised weopons,suspicious packages and how to handle those things."

Cleveland also told drivers the best way to handle unruly students is to tell them,"Behave and ride, don't behave and don't ride."

Cleveland said before 9-11, 2001, no one had thought about the possibility of a terrorist attacking and taking over a school bus.

Gainesville Schools Transportation Director Janice Burns said her drivers felt better prepared.

Burns said city and county drivers also received anti-terrorist training locally from the fire department.

The event was hosted by Georgia Emergency Management and the Georgia State Patrol.

State Patrol School Bus Safety Coordinator, Sgt. Thompson Peeples,instructed drivers on safe stopping and starting and use of mirrors to avoid striking a student entering or exiting a bus.

Peeples has seen the National Unloading and Loading survey and it contains too many sad stories of students getting hit either by their own bus or by a passing motorist.

Peeples said he wanted drivers to have the right attitude and right knowledge because state of the art on board electronic monitors and warnings are still out of reach.

School bus safety is still in the hands of the bus drivers.