New Albany-Plain Local Schools bus drivers began working with kindergarten through third-grade students on Sept. 1 on a mandatory bus safety program.

The district announced the annual instruction covers four areas: behavior at the bus stop, conduct inside the bus, the danger zone around the bus and emergency evacuation procedures. The training is required under Ohio Administrative Code 3301-83-09 and Ohio Revised Code 3327.16. Those rules direct every Ohio district to provide bus safety instruction to K-3 students within two weeks of the school year's start.

Classes in the district resumed Aug. 19.

What students are learning

At the bus stop, drivers teach children to arrive five minutes early, wait at least 10 feet from the road's edge and watch for the horn, which signals danger. On the bus, students practice sitting back-to-back and seat-to-seat with feet on the floor, keeping aisles and emergency exits clear and keeping heads, hands and feet inside the bus.

The district puts special emphasis on the "danger zone," the 10-foot area surrounding the bus, about four giant steps. If a child drops something in that zone, the rule is simple: leave it and tell the driver. The district told families: another toy can be replaced, but another child cannot.

Students also learn that if they cannot see the driver, the driver cannot see them.

Emergency evacuation

Drivers walk students through evacuation procedures: voice level at zero, all belongings left on the bus, sitting on the edge of the exit and jumping with assistance when directed. Students then walk to a safe location at least 100 feet from the bus.

What parents should know

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce requires this training statewide each fall. The state rule also covers safe walking to and from bus stops, wearing light-colored or reflective clothing in darkness and the dangers of trespassing on railroad rights-of-way.

The district asked families to reinforce these lessons at home. No follow-up event or parent meeting has been announced beyond the Sept. 11 end of the instruction period.