All In A Days Work!

In Angole, New York, Lori saved the lives of students just by being aware.

At a routine drop-off, she stopped, checked her surroundings, and after making sure it was safe she opened her door to let the students off. Just before the students left the bus, Lori noticed an oncoming vehicle and pulled her door closed. When the doors shut, an out of control vehicle skidded sideways in front of the door and across three lawns.

Parents who witnessed it were able to give the police a description of the car and a partial license plate. No news on weather or not the vehicle has been located as of yet.

Lori was presented with a certificate for her actions as well as flowers. She later said,
"It was all in a day's work, and I am glad I could be of service."

Well Lori, it was a good call and I'm very impressed! Such a good example on how important it is to always be aware of your surroundings. If you want to learn more about it, click the link connected to the title.

Thank You,
Haleigh

National Walk to School Day!

The above picture shows Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Walking to School.

National Walk to School Day was held on October 5Th this year and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez Joined students on their walks!

This event has a completely positive effect on not only the students but also on the environment! For the students, it helps wake up their minds and prepare them for the school day, while giving them a way to be active and healthy. For the environment, it cuts back on general emissions and traffic congestion.

Did you know that walking and/or biking to school is second place (right behind riding the big yellow bus) in safest way to get to or from school? It is kind of surprising to think of it that way since so many kids either drive themselves or are dropped off by a parent. All those extra vehicles, leads to traffic and people rushing to get to school on time thus creating more opportunities for accident to happen.

School buses are by far the safest way for students to go to school, but when the next National Walk to School Day rolls around...I hope to see many more people on the sidewalk!

Thank You,
Haleigh

Hoglund's Heros Issue 1!!!!

This is a copy of the very first issue of Hoglund's Heros!!!

Hoglund's Heros is a weekly newsletter made by Rachel and it incorporates all things happening in and around Hoglund! There is a calendar section, an employee assignment section, rule of the week and weekly meetings! I know I am a little biased on this, but my favorite part is the exerpt about our blog!

Unfortunately we will only be posting these little pictures of the issues and you will not be able to read the whole thing. The good news is that I will be pulling out the highlights for you!

For this weeks meeting we discussed our idling policy, discipline, pre-trips, our communication forms and how they work, and our time and mileage reports! Not a bad way to kick off our first meeting of the year!

Thank You,
Haleigh

New Kjellberg West Stop!!

To all families who reside within Kjellbergs West: we have changed the bus stop. The new stop is located on the driveway to the east of the office. All students are required to be at the bus stop before the bus arrives! Bikes are to be left against the fence, and parents need to park a safe distance away.

In the transportation industry it is irresponsible to place a stop in the same place just because it has been there for years. New factors can arise at the bus stop, making it unsafe or unreasonable to leave it where it was. Seeing as there have been multiple incidents at the old stop, and adding in other factors, the change was the best choice we could make for everyone.

During drop-off in the afternoon all student are required to stay at the bus stop until the bus has left. That means not going to the bikes, or a parent's car until the bus has left the street. This is all for the child's safety.

The above diagram shows the Kjellbergs stop, which is marked with a red X. At the stop there are yellow lines painted on the road, marking where students are expected to wait for the bus.

Thank You,
Haleigh

Crashes on the decline?

From California and Oregon all the way over to Ohio, school bus accidents are decreasing!

In California we are seeing a 10% decrease in crashes, going from 2,091 to 1,878 school bus crashes. Only five of the crashes resulted in fatalities, none of which were passengers on board the buses. In the same year, school bus activity increased by 5%. Isn't it just amazing how the bus accidents go down as their activity goes up?!

In Oregon, Salem-Keizer’s transportation has reduced their accidents by an overwhelming 25%! This is accredited to their convincing the school to change bell times. All so that the bus while not be involed with as much day to day traffic as it was before.

In Ohio there was also a 25% drop in accidents! They attribute this drop to having better driver training and management practices. Their state director mentions them having summer training indepth perception as a main goal to improve upon for future years!

I would like to congratulate all three states in successfully decreasing their accidents and making school buses even safer!

Thank You,
Haleigh

Man Saves Bus Driver!

On September 15, 2011 one man's good nature saved another man's life. That man is Matt Collins and he noticed a bus that appeared driver less rolling through an intersection.

After approaching the bus and opening the door, he found the driver was slumped over in his seat with two special-needs students on board. The driver did not have a pulse so Matt engaged the parking brakes and, with another bystander, removed the driver from the bus to begin CPR.

The police arrived quickly after receiving a 911 call and were able to restart the 65-year-old man's heart beat. Paramedics arrived to take the driver to the hospital while another driver finished the route. A relative reports that the driver is recovering at the hospital.

What Matt so selflessly did resulted in saving a man's life and quite possible the lifes of the two special-needs students onboard.

Thank You,
Haleigh

Burn'n Buses...

In the photograph, a burned bus is being hauled away.

One 15-year-old boy in Lafayette, Ind., is being charged for purposely setting a fire that destroyed four Tippecanoe School Corp buses. He pled guilty to one count of arson, and three counts of criminal mischief. He will have spent 90-days in a secure detention facility and will be spending several months at a treatment center for children. His choice cost the Tippecanoe School Corp about $ 425,000.00 in damages.

It is a shame that this one bad choice impacts not only his life, but is going to affect everyone who rides to school on Tippecanoe buses. Losing four school buses is a big deal to a school bus company! In our district, ONE bus used on multiple route sessions, could transport 250 students. Multiplied by four, the loss of those buses affects 1,000 students and their families...in fact, an entire community.

Sometimes people don't realise how their choices can affect others. What's worse is that some people don't care.Next time you make a choice, think about it: how is this going to affect others around me? Will what I do be positive or negative? Finally, ask yourself this: should I be doing this?

Thank You,
Haleigh

What's In A Rule????

Part of our student education initiative includes a Rule of the Week Program.

We've taken our ten core rules and created some sort of visual of the rule. A new rule will be posted the first ten Mondays of the school year, and then we restart the cycle.

Each Monday, the week's rule posts on our blog. On Tuesdays, the bus drivers change the poster in their buses. Also on Tuesdays, the school announcements include the week's rule.

We have used this set of rules for many years because they are tried and true; students who follow them tend to have better bus rides than those who fail to follow them.

Thank You,

Hoglund Transportation

Back to School!!

Alright all you drivers, it's that time of year again. Time to pay even closer attention to the roads and start spotting those big, bright yellow school buses! I know they are hard to miss, but you are also looking out for all the thousands of children that are going to be riding around on them.

The beginning of school is one of the busiest times for our company, mainly because there is always so much to do! About a month before school actually starts is when we start all the big projects like: making routes, putting together all the kindergarten packets, and double checking that all of our buses and drivers are ready to go!

During the first to second week of school, some of the bus drivers will learn two or even three variations of the same route to make it quicker, easier, or just because a student stop has changed. So many things impact a route and we ask that if you, or your child's route does get changed that you or your child will help us make sure that route runs smoothly.

Summer is over in Monticello, school is about to begin, and the Hoglund Transportation buses and staff are ready to take you there!

Thank You,
Hoglund Transportation.

Don't Block the Bus!

Most people do not realize what a big deal it is to disrupt a school bus. I'm sure this woman didn't. In Chesterfield, VA a mother was convicted of disorderly conduct for blocking a school bus with her car and yelling at the driver.

She was sentenced to 12 months in jail, has to pay a $1,000.00 fine, and is not allowed within 500 feet of either a parked school bus or a school for the next three years! Being disruptive outside of the bus got this woman into big trouble. Parents, be aware of your actions around a school bus; there are children there, and they are watching your examples.

Students, you can also get into serious trouble on the bus. Sure, we have all seen write-ups and referrals, but that's not what I'm talking about. Disrupting the bus driver is against the law, and you could be charged for it. Just remember that when you're riding: be cool and follow the rules.

Thank You,

Haleigh