Student Transportation Inc. (STI) has kicked off its eighth annual Anti-Bullying Awareness Month.

The company-wide “Bully-Free Buses” campaign started with Blue Shirt Day. Company employees wore blue shirts on Tuesday as a symbol of unity against student bullying.

“Blue Shirt Day is an important day because it allows us to show our students, parents, school officials, and community members that we are adamant about not allowing any form of bullying to take place on or off the school bus,” said Shelly Hall, STI’s vice president of safety.

In addition to Blue Shirt Day, during the month of October, STI will host awareness-raising activities at the company's more than 170 locations, including meetings and presentations from school officials, law enforcement personnel, and safety-based organizations.

“We truly care about the 1.25 million passengers we transport to and from school daily, and passengers should feel safe and secure on the school bus,” Hall said. “We strive to have our vehicles not only be a safe zone, but allow for a setting that is calm and enjoyable for all onboard. Anti-Bullying Awareness Month is a great opportunity to highlight what we do year-round to prevent bullying and work with community leaders to raise awareness.”

STI also promotes anti-bullying awareness and prevention education throughout the year with its web-based learning management system, ST University, according to the company. The platform offers several training modules covering a variety of material, including behavior-based safety training, morale and team building, bullying workshops, and a safety leadership program.