Kentucky District Steps Up Efforts To Stop School Bus Fights

Most school bus drivers are unfortunately accustomed to dealing with school bus fights, but one Kentucky district is taking extra steps to keep the daily ride to and from school safe for students and free of fights.

Jefferson County Public Schools is hiring extra police officers, increasing the use of video cameras onboard buses, and offering incentive pay for more experienced school bus drivers after administrators saw a sharp rise in incidents on routes for alternative schools.

According to WAVE 3 News, the number of overall fights on school buses in the district has been steadily declining. While the district recorded 269 fights on buses two years ago, that number has fallen to only 172 fights last year.

The president of the union that represents local school bus drivers told local news that drivers often report incidents to principals, the only individuals with the power to suspend students from the bus, only for the incident to be dismissed.

According to the district’s chief academic officer, each school’s code of conduct is different and it is up to the principal to balance the severity of incidents on the bus with the need to keep students with behavioral issues in school.

The report says the district will be hiring police officers in unmarked cruisers to monitor the ride home for some of the most difficult routes and will expand the use of video cameras on all buses. It is also working on a deal which would give incentive pay to experienced bus drivers who choose to drive routes with a history of problems.

Find out more in the report from WAVE 3 News here.