Kent ISD — When an unhappy parent charged onto the bus, driver Shalyn Harrison said she was prepared for the scenario, but initially struggled to process how to respond.
“I have never had a parent do that,” she said after the simulated interaction.
In another scenario, Harrison was praised by trainers Grand Rapids Police Sgt. Neil Gomez and Kent County Sheriff’s Deputy Dejujuan Nelson for taking control and de-escalating the situation.
Harrison, a Dean Transportation driver for Grand Rapids Union High School, was one of more than 100 bus drivers from Kentwood, Kenowa Hills, Forest Hills, Rockford, Wyoming and Grand Rapids who attended Bus Driver Emergency Response Training in June on the Kent ISD campus.
The training provided drivers with realistic situations to help them refresh their skills, said Kent ISD Transportation Director Mark Higgins.
During the four-hour session, drivers enacted five scenarios, including a parent forcing their way onto a bus, a car-bus accident, a school lockdown, a medical emergency and student violence.
Drivers practiced emergency response procedures, incident communications, de-escalation techniques, student safety management and coordinated response efforts.
“It’s also an opportunity for drivers to get together with colleagues from other districts, learn how they handle these situations and bring ideas back to their own districts,” said Kent ISD Safety and Security Director Sean Burns.
Linda Dixon, director of Dean Transportation’s 44th Street location and a trainer for the session, said each station included a trainer and a Kent County Sheriff’s officer, which allowed drivers and officers to learn from one another.
“I have learned what officers are looking for when they arrive at the scene of a disaster,” Dixon said.
Deputy Jose Douglas said he did not know that some special education buses do not have both a driver and an assistant on board. The issue came up as drivers discussed how to evacuate students if a lift is damaged during a crash.
“We have protocols, too,” Douglas told the group. “The most important thing is making sure that innocent lives are not in danger, so you may need help from the public. Oftentimes, those offering help are off-duty officers, nurses, doctors, people with some training.”
Drivers are required to complete a mandated state training every two years. Burns said Kent ISD’s goal is to offer programs like this one to supplement that training and help drivers keep their skills fresh.
Kent ISD partnered with Kelloggsville, Wyoming and Rockford public schools and Dean Transportation for the event.
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