School Buses Get Early Morning Check Up In Frigid Temps
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)- Jeffco Public Schools is working around the clock to make sure your kids get picked up as quickly as possible when temperatures are chilly at the bus stop.
Wednesday morning, bus drivers for Jeffco Public Schools checked their buses before students even got on board.
"Once we knew the storm was coming in, we scheduled extra drivers to come in the morning, extra mechanics to come in the morning, that way we can make sure all buses start, they're warmed up, and ready to go," said Jeffco Transportation Director Cathy Nelson.
Bus driver Sandy Fields goes through a daily routine of making sure her bus is up to code.
"We have to carry chains in our buses, and we want to make sure we have two sets of chains," Fields said. "Our mechanics, and other drivers who come in early, come out and start the buses for us."
Mechanic Les Allen makes sure 86 buses are warmed up so drivers can roll out on schedule.
"It's bad enough that kids have to stand out at a corner somewhere, freezing until the buses get there," Allen said. "It'd be nice for them to have a warm place to sit."
While it's hard to get to bus stops on time, Jeffco Transportation Director Cathy Nelson reminds parents to be patient.
"We ask parents to bundle their kids up, make sure they're warm, and if possible, bring them to the stop so they can stay warm until we get there," Nelson said. "We just have to make sure that we're safe."
If you don't want your child to stand outside in the cold waiting for their bus, many school districts tell CBS4 that an absence or tardy are usually excused.
While many districts CBS4 spoke with won't cancel classes for cold weather, policies vary by school. Districts ask you to check in with them directly if you have any questions.
Andrea Flores is a reporter for CBS4. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @AndreaFloresTV.