Valley View Bus Drivers Tackle Bullying

Editor's note: The following is a press release from Valley View School District 365U. 

Emphasizing the fact that safety on Valley View School District 365U buses is of utmost importance, VVSD Community Outreach Coordinator Michele Bochnak gave district bus drivers a few tips on how to maintain a positive bus environment Monday. 

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“If students don’t feel safe, they can’t do their best work,” Bochnak said during an Anti-Bullying Month seminar at VVSD’s Spangler Transportation Center. “We want all students to have a positive ride to and from school.”

Bochnak, who is the leader of VVSD’s Anti-Bullying Task Force, told drivers about VVSD’s new Anti-Bullying Plan, which includes training for every district employee and an anonymous bullying reporting system which will make its district-wide debut Nov. 1.

“Bullying and school violence are problems in schools all over the world,” she said. “Bullies are sneaky people. They look for opportunities where there is less supervision. Unfortunately buses are one of those opportunities.”

In fact, Bochnak said, a 2011-2012 school year survey of more than 7,000 VVSD students showed that more bullying incidents take place on school playgrounds and in school buses than at any other locations.

“If you maintain an environment where kids have a positive experience,” they won’t let you down,” Bochnak told drivers, suggesting each driver engage students as much as possible by telling them good morning, making eye contact, or asking them how they’re doing. “It’s unreasonable to expect you to know the names of all the students on your bus, but acknowledge that you see them.”

The goal, she said, is to team up with students to shape a positive relationship with both their peers and adults. Such teamwork between students and bus drivers is critical so that everyone experiences a safe, fair and consistent bus environment with clear expectations for student behavior.

“We’re trying to reach out to everyone in the district, the community included, so we’re all talking the same language,” Bochnak said. “This is an age-old problem. But something has to change.”