The South Shore Regional School Board has won its ninth consecutive Nova Scotia Pupil Transportation Gold Award. The awards are presented to school boards across the province for exceptionally high scores in a number of safety and performance related areas.
To attain the gold status, the Transportation Department is evaluated based on a points system with Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, Motor Carrier Inspectors and Department of Education and Early Childhood Development looking at school bus driver training, accident reporting and frequency, fleet preventative maintenance, fleet body maintenance, stops per mile/luggage and passenger loads, trip inspection and hours of work, garage cleanliness and safety practices and finally bus cleanliness and appearance. The awards are presented jointly by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal for exceptionally high scores in a number of safety and performance related areas. Total points awarded this year were 198 out of a possible 200. This is an exceptional accomplishment for our Transportation Department.
In addition to receiving the Gold distinction, the Bridgewater Bus Garage was awarded the provincial Ed Arsenault Top Shop award. This award recognizes the highest performing school bus garage in the Province in terms of employee attitude, organization, technical knowledge, training, professionalism, safety, JOHS, cleanliness, work flow and maintenance practices.
These awards highlight SSRSB’s everyday commitment to students and their safety. Most of our students begin their day on a school bus, so getting to and from school in a positive and safe environment is a vital part of a student’s daily experience.
The South Shore Regional School Board operates 84 buses over 320 runs, employs 92 drivers (84 full-time drivers and 8 spares) and 14 full time Transportation staff, and transports approximately 5900 students on a daily basis.