MISD Students Begin School Bus Evacuation Drills

10/26/2009

Intermediate students practiced leaving the bus via the front door. Left to right, (with face turned from camera) Vanessa Espinosa, Daniel Blair, Alec Lara, and Julio Rodriguez, who points to the area to which the students will run.

Weber-Hardin Elementary and Intermediate School students practiced school bus evacuation drills the week of October 19. A substantial number of Mathis ISD students ride the bus to and from school, but even those students who do not ride the bus daily benefit from the drill because all students ride school buses to academic and athletic events, and on field trips.

Rosa Huerta, Mathis ISD Transportation Coordinator, conducted the training using a step-by-step “how-to” DVD; a demonstration with a student of what happens to a student who is facing backward when a bus makes a sudden stop; and a real-time bus evacuation for groups of 25 students. Mrs. Huerta asked the students on the bus “how many exits on the bus?” Most students answered correctly, that there were eight exits on the bus—two doors, one in the front, and one in the back, four window exits that could be popped out, and two ceiling exits. All the students could identify the placement of the fire extinguisher, and the first aid kit at the front of the bus. When asked who was always in charge—all could reply that the bus driver “was the boss”.

McCraw Junior High School and Mathis High School students will practice the bus evacuation drill later this month.