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Sophia and Bill Pendergast of Rhode Island, USA wrote:

In the 19 years after our daughter's death we still find it incredibly difficult to receive phone calls from other mothers and fathers whose children have died because of the inadequate supervision of our children on school buses.

In May of 1985, our daughter, Vanessa Anne Pendergast, was killed while crossing in front of her school bus just 2 doors from the safety of her home. The driver was distracted by an altercation in the rear of the bus and ran Vanessa over with both the front and rear wheels of the bus.

I do not have to describe the massive injuries that her 50-pound body sustained from the weight of a 15 ton vehicle. Vanessa was the second of three Rhode Island school children to be killed by their own school bus in 1985.

After Vanessa's death my husband and I and several other Middletown families co-founded F.I.S.S.T., Families Insisting On Safe Student Transportation. We first started on a local level but, in October of 1985, when the third Rhode Island child was killed, we realized we had to work on a statewide level. We began with researching school bus fatalities both in Rhode Island and the nation. What we quickly uncovered was that every year at least one Rhode Island child was killed in a school bus related accident and hundreds more injured.

Nationwide, a reported 50 to 100 children were killed and thousands were injured. Keep in mind that these numbers are voluntarily submitted to the state and federal agencies that produce these school bus safety reports and I can testify from reviewing these reports and comparing them to newspaper archives of school bus deaths that many of these incidents have gone unreported. In fact, all three of the 1985 R.I. deaths were never reported.

While researching school bus safety we talked to experts at NHTSA, Kansas Department of Transportation, FARS, NTSB, and AAA and the one point that all the experts agreed on was that most school bus fatalities and injuries occur because of driver distraction. Some of the distractions included vomiting, severe allergic reactions, fighting, sexual assault, stealing lunch monies and other possessions, to name a few. At no other time in the school day do we expect one adult to supervise up to 75 children. In the school bus the adult is to do it with their back turned towards the riders and using only a rearview mirror. Then throw in traffic lights and stop signs, other vehicles and pedestrians, dogs, and road conditions and you have a recipe for disaster.

After almost a year of research, F.I.S.S.T produced a comprehensive school bus safety package. In June of 1986, the Rhode Island Legislature enacted 9 of the 11 bills that made up the package, one of which was the school bus monitor bill.

The school bus monitor would be employed and trained by local school departments the same as a teacher's aide and would ride on all kindergarten through fifth grade buses. He or she would be trained in first aide and crossing guard procedures. The monitor's job is to keep a classroom like environment in the school bus and to help children safely cross in and out of the "school bus death zone"

As a direct result of the school bus monitor program since 1986 not one Rhode Island child has been killed in a school bus related accident and the number of injuries has been reduced by 65%. The decrease of injuries improves every year.

Sometimes when stopped behind a school bus I watch as the monitor calms a group of children before letting them board or helps to cross children in an orderly and safe manner and I know that the same supervision is afforded to all of these children while on the school bus.

We are proud and humbled that because of the school bus monitor bill at least 19 Rhode Island school children are alive today and that 19 families will never have to write a letter like this.

Sincerely,
Sophia and Bill Pendergast
Rhode Island, US


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John DiTomasso, Director of Pupil Transportation, Rhode Island, wrote:

In 1985 three Rhode Island school children were killed in three separate incidents involving school buses. In 1986 legislation was passed requiring a statewide monitoring program. Monitors are required on school buses transporting grades K to 5. Sophia is correct when she states there has not been a fatality during this time period. In addition, there has not even been a serious injury since monitors were required to be placed on the school buses. It's important to note that school bus monitors not only protect children outside the school bus by walking them through the danger zone but are also very helpful inside the school bus. School bus accidents can be caused by driver distractions. Monitors can act as disciplinarians on the school bus so that the school bus driver doesn't get distracted and can concentrate on driving.

John DiTomasso,
Director of Pupil Transportation, Rhode Island


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Michelle Fonseca, a School Principal in Rhode Island wrote:

I have vivid memories of riding bus 18 throughout my years of school in Westport, Massachusetts. I did not enjoy riding the bus, and would often beg my parents to drive me. I was disturbed by the long bus ride, the loud noises and the intimidating older students who rode along with me. But what disturbed me most was what happened when I was in fourth grade; a student in my school was run over by a school bus and killed. I have never forgotten that, and I can still feel the fear that ran through me each time I crossed in front of the bus, just like she had done.

Six years ago I became a principal at an elementary school in Middletown, RI. My duties and responsibilities quickly grew from a classroom of 25 students to a pre-kindergarten to grade four school of 400 students. I can remember my first day of school, waiting in the bus circle for my seven busses to pull in with feelings of anticipation. With safety as my first priority, I thought back to my own school bus fears. One of the first people I met on that day was a school bus monitor. Manny jumped off the bus and introduced himself. He was wearing a bright orange reflector jacket. I watched him remind his students of the rules for disembarking, and lead each child off safely. In the days that followed, I was impressed and reassured when watching each monitor and the care that they took in performing their duties. There was comfort in watching them check under the bus each time the bus was ready to depart and to know that continued throughout the entire bus run. I wondered how their presence would have changed my rides and fears in elementary school.

Today, I cannot imagine any of our school busses without a bus monitor. There have not been any accidents on our busses, and I believe it is a tribute to the monitors' constant supervision of students and ability to enforce all safety procedures. Children of this age need adequate supervision, a bus driver's responsibilities do not allow for that. Luckily, our bus drivers concentrate on nothing else other than safely driving their school bus. In addition to making the bus ride a safer one, the monitor has made our bus rides more enjoyable for students, our busses are a happy and a less stressful place. Familiar faces greet students each morning and maintain order on each run; they hop off at each stop and help children safely cross in and out of the danger zones. They are vital to our school bus success record, ensuring safety both inside and out of their busses!

I feel any district not providing well trained monitors on daily bus runs is certainly doing a disservice to their students. At our school, teachers are never left to supervise a large group of students alone. We have plenty of supervision on the playground, in the cafeteria, and in our classrooms. Thinking that a bus driver can take on the responsibility of proper supervision and safety on a school bus, along with the important task of driving is not realistic. Some of our busses carry 70 students on them, we would never leave an adult to supervise 70 students alone. Accidents can happen anywhere, it is our job to provide students with the supervision that can both prevent as well as react to any emergency situation.

Perhaps our students say it best, when I asked a little boy why the monitors were important, he simply stated; "If they weren't on the bus who would take care of us?"


Michelle Fonseca,
Principal Aquidneck School, Middletown, RI

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• Following his Investigation into the death of Allyceea Ennis in November, 2004, Ontario's Chief Coroner said: "It is recommended that adult onboard monitors be used on all school buses that transport junior and senior kindergarten children and that some form of monitoring and supervision be available for all school buses transporting elementary school aged children."
  
  Dr. Barry McLellan, Chief Coroner for the Province of Ontario:
  



• National School Transportation Association spokeswoman, Robin Leeds said that expecting bus drivers to prevent threatening incidents and keep students safe "may not be realistic." The best solution, according to Leeds, is more adult supervision. "You have another set of eyes and ears, you have another authority figure," she said.
  
  "Keeping peace on school buses a daunting task for drivers" by Chris Dovi, Daytona Beach News-Journal, November 16, 2005:
  



• Ontario Federation of Home and School Associations (OFHSA) letter, May 8, 2005, to the Minister of Transportation and the Minister of Education stated: "Members voted to retain a long-standing OFHSA policy which calls for monitors on all school buses when no teacher is in attendance." (supported by OFHSA policy II.A.2.2 since 1986)
  
  Brian Peat, President of the Ontario Federation of Home and School Associations (OFHSA):



• The Paramedic Association of Canada sent a letter December 17, 2004, to the Federal Minister of Transport and the Premier of Ontario quoting Dr. Barry McLellan, Ontario's Chief Coroner and requesting that "adult, onboard monitors, be used on all school buses that transport junior and senior kindergarten children and that some form of monitoring and supervision be available for all school buses transporting elementary school aged children."
  
  Paul Morneau, Government Relations and Bryon Longeway, President, Paramedic Association of Canada:



• The Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association sent a letter February 11, 2005, to the Premier of Ontario, with cc's to the Minister of Education and the Minster of Transportation quoting Dr. Barry McLellan, Ontario's Chief Coroner and requesting that "adult, onboard monitors, be used on all school buses that transport junior and senior kindergarten children and that some form of monitoring and supervision be available for all school buses transporting elementary school aged children."
  
  Fred LeBlanc, President, Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association:



• Jim Emptage, President, Professional Student Services Personnel, District 12, Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) sent a letter January 18, 2005, to the Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Education requesting that: "All elementary school buses be required by the Ministry of Education to have a paid, trained adult monitor on board, in addition to the driver."
  
  Jim Emptage, President, Professional Student Services Personnel, District 12, OSSTF:
  



• In 1986 legislation was passed in Rhode Island requiring a statewide school bus monitor program. It reads in part: "For transportation provided to children enrolled in grades kindergarten through five (5), school bus monitors, other than the school bus driver, shall be required on all school bound and home bound routes."
  
  Section 16-21-1 1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-21 entitled "Health and Safety of Pupils "



• American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement recommended: "Adult supervision on school buses should focus on ensuring that passengers stay seated, use seat belts when available, and keep arms and heads inside windows; assisting in handling emergencies; assisting passengers with special needs; and escorting children across busy roadways. These objectives can best be met by a second adult (other than the driver) serving as a monitor on the school bus."
  
  School Transportation Safety - Pediatrics, Vo. 97 No. 5, May 1996:



• American Federation of Teachers, AFL•CIO Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel statement on School Bus Safety recommended that school boards and administrators should: "Hire bus monitors whose specific responsibility is to maintain order on board. School systems should make sure these monitors receive proper training and that they have the full support of administrators."
  
  American Federation of Teachers, AFL•CIO Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel



• In August of 2005, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt's Task Force on School Bus Safety recommended, in part: "School districts should explore opportunities to utilize bus monitors to observe student behavior on the buses thus enabling drivers to focus on driving."
  
  Governor Blunt's Bus Safety Task Force, August 2005:



• The Ottawa Carleton Headstart Association for Preschools document: TRANSPORTATION OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN recommended that: "OCHAP and the Child Care Services Branch of the City of Ottawa should encourage the use of monitors - at a minimum child to staff ratio of 1:8. Monitors tend to improve the concentration of the drivers; the management of children's behaviour on the vehicle is left to the monitor rather than the driver. Monitors also are a resource in case of vehicle breakdowns, emergency situations and evacuations. Programmatically, monitors can extend the early enrichment learning environment - engaging children in activities while being transported, meeting parents/guardians at pick-up and drop-off points, etc."
  
  OCHAP - Review of Current Systems and Recommendations for Headstart Programs in Ottawa:



• The United States Federal Head Start Program requires, "Effective January 20, 2004, there is at least one bus monitor on board at all times, with additional bus monitors provided as necessary, such as when needed to accommodate the needs of children with disabilities."
  
  HEAD START TRANSPORTATION - SUBPART A:
  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/performance/1310.htm
• 
  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in their "Preschool Transportation Guidelines" (NHTSA defines "pre-school" as children under 50 pounds) recommends: A bus attendant(s) should be on the bus to assist the bus driver in providing safe transportation. The number of adults on the bus should be similar to ratios required in classrooms and day care centers.
  
  National Safety Council website:



• National Education Association - Bullying and Sexual Harassment Prevention / Intervention Program coordinator, Gaye Barker said: "I think it’s so lamentable that there is not a monitor on every school bus in the country because you cannot expect the driver to drive and be aware of highway safety and pay attention to what’s happening to the kids all the time."
  
  The Bulletin: The Newsletter of the Hamilton Fish Institute, P. 4:
  



• Barbara Coloroso, author of The Bully, The Bullied, and The Bystander: Breaking the Cycle of Violence said, "The key is, there is no adult supervision." Bus drivers can't be expected to monitor student behavior as well, and bus bullies know that, says Coloroso.
  
  Christian Science Monitor, quoted by CBS News, April 18, 2005: