A comprehensive approach to the stranded-student problem

CLARKSTON, Mich. — When Dale Goby was head of transportation for Detroit Public Schools, with a total of more than 600 contractor and district buses, children being left behind on the bus was a recurring problem.

Goby told SBF that the number of incidents was more than 10 per year until his leadership team developed a solution that brought the number down to zero. He said that the knowledge he gained resulted in the ChildSaf System, which he describes as a "low-cost, low-technology" approach to preventing children from being left on the bus.

"Many believe they have the solution to this problem, yet what I find is they do not understand the complexity of the problem they are trying to solve. Even many transportation supervisors don't fully understand it," Goby said. "Many use disciplinary action as the primary approach to solving this problem. Unfortunately, the result is that instances of children left on the bus continue."

According to Goby, who now runs Goby and Associates consulting and management services, ChildSaf is a comprehensive system that focuses on prevention and can work alongside the electronic child-reminder devices that many operations have in place on their buses.

"We put electronic child-reminder systems on all the new buses purchased at Detroit during my tenure there, and I believe they are very helpful," he said. "However, our experience taught us that they were not sufficient, by themselves, to fully prevent these instances."

The key to success, Goby said, is redundancy. This approach is based on an analysis of what steps are taken to make safety-critical operations successful. For example, the space shuttle has multiple systems for many of its critical functions. Additionally, airline flight systems require redundancy of critical instruments and controls to provide the level of safety required.

To that end, the ChildSaf System is based on a "team approach to prevention" focusing on five components:

1. A recommended district policy on checking buses for children. This provides the structure and administrative support for the system and requires driver post-route checks.

2. Specific driver procedures for securing the bus at the end of the route.

3. Administrator/supervisor procedures for checking on the drivers. This is a critical element of the redundancy. A form for this daily supervisory check and a system for measuring district performance are included. Further, the placement of the signs and the use of reflectorized materials make the supervisory checks easier.

4. Signs to be placed in the upper center of the rear window of the bus to show that the driver has checked it for students. The sign, which attaches with a Velcro-like material, reads "EMPTY" on one side and has the driver procedures on the other side.

5. An on-site training session for administrators and drivers on implementing the system. The session is about 45 minutes and is conducted by Goby.

According to Goby, no transportation provider that has fully implemented the ChildSaf System has had a child left behind on the bus unsupervised by an adult.

"One district that implemented the system had two sleeping kindergarten students left on the bus, but found by the driver in their vehicle check, in the first week of school," Goby said. "Others have informed me that the system works, and one driver told me that it saved her career."

ChildSaf is sold for $19.95 per bus. Those who would like further information or a review of their system can contact Goby at (248) 410-3632 or gobyd@comcast.net.