CINCINNATI — First Student is working to further foster good bus behavior during Love the Bus month and beyond through its “I Care + We Care = Customer Care” initiative.

Customer Care aims to ensure children arrive at school feeling safe, respected and ready to learn. The ongoing initiative sets simple age-appropriate behavior expectations for students and provides positive reinforcement tools for good behavior.

“At First Student, we never forget that how students get to and from school matters,” said Dennis Maple, president of First Student. “We recognize the opportunity we have to directly and positively impact each student’s day. Our people take that responsibility very seriously.”

First Student team members, including drivers, monitors, managers and technicians, are empowered to better manage student behavior on the bus, and provide positive reinforcement to students, such as award certificates, stickers and note cards, according to the contractor. Team members also focus on ensuring school buses are clean and well-maintained for students.

“Our people are our advantage,” Maple added. “Customer Care provides additional opportunities for our team members to work together in strengthening our commitment to service and safety.”

“The interactions students have on the bus can impact how they treat one [another] throughout the day, as well as how they behave in the classroom,” said Gary Catapano, First Student senior vice president of safety. “We know how important it is for children to feel safe and respected on the school bus. Using our insight, expertise and resources, we are striving to build more positive relationships between bus drivers, students and the broader communities we serve.”