LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) transportation branch celebrated School Bus Safety Awareness Month in October by recognizing 941 of its school bus drivers for safe driving and perfect attendance in five award ceremonies held at several of the district’s middle and high schools.

This year, 879 drivers were honored for their safe driving with a Transportation Safety Award pin. Seven individuals were awarded for 30 or more years of safe driving:

• Alfred Romo (35 years)

• George Johnson Jr. (32 years)

• Malcolm Mitchell (31 years)

• Floriano Botana (31 years)

• William Gardner Jr. (30 years)

• Joseph Medrano (30 years)

• Claudia Norris (30 years)

  To qualify for this award, drivers must meet various attendance and accident criteria.

  The ceremonies also recognized 62 school bus drivers for perfect attendance. To qualify for this award, an employee must have driven on a route with students at least 80 percent of the school year.

  “School bus drivers cover 31.9 million miles annually with a 99.4-percent on-time rate,” Transportation Director Enrique Boull’t said. “We are very proud of our school bus drivers and their exemplary safety record.”

  The LAUSD transportation branch provides home-to-school transportation for special district programs, including student integration and special education. It transports more than 59,000 students daily on 2,000 bus routes.