New School Bus Safety Ideas

By Sam Jarvis Sr.

"Public Act 95-0352, effective August 23, 2007, will allow both a visual and audio recording to be made on the interior of a school bus when transportation is provided for any school related activity. Notice of recordings shall be displayed on the exterior of the entrance door and front interior bulkhead. Recordings must be held confidential and can only be used by school officials and law enforcement personnel for disciplinary actions or prosecutions related to incidents occurring in or around the school bus."
My wife has drove a school bus for 30 years, and I have for 25. Yes, we agree that school buses should have video cameras. I was thrilled when they first came out with the video cam. But, to be fair, there needs to be microphones in the center and back of the bus. As it stands now, mostly the driver's voice is all that can be heard. We need to pick up what the children are saying in the back also, for their protection, and ours. High school and middle school students are still using profanity, and intimidating smaller students, in the middle and back, of the bus. Drivers feel these cameras are for watching the driver only, whereas they should be used also for students behavior, and we have proof of what we report.
Thank you for your time,
Sam Jarvis Sr.