First Student, filmmakers partner on anti-bullying campaign

CINCINNATI — Two executives from First Student sat in on a White House screening of the film “Bully” last week.

The documentary puts the spotlight on bullying in America’s schools.

First Student received the invitation to the screening because of its commitment to ending bullying on America’s school buses, according to the company.

The school bus contractor is working alongside filmmakers on “The BULLY Project: 1 Million Kids” campaign. The goal of this campaign is to help change behavior in schools by providing free access to the movie in theaters within an educational framework. First Student is working with The BULLY Project to transport 1 million students to weekday film screenings across the country.

“We are thrilled to have representatives from First Student attending this special screening of such an important film, but even more proud of the fact that our employees are demonstrating a commitment to the issue of bullying,” said Linda Burtwistle, president of First Student. “Our bus drivers transport 6 million students each day, and we realize that we have an opportunity to make a real difference in the anti-bullying movement.”

This school year, First Student launched a new anti-bullying safety campaign for all of its drivers and attendants. The campaign, called “See Something. Do Something.,” is based on a campaign created by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools and the National Association for Pupil Transportation. It is customized for First Student’s more than 59,000 bus drivers.