Georgia District Testing “Walking School Bus” Program

Georgia District Testing “Walking School Bus” Program

Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools and Gadsden Elementary are launching a new initiative to provide students with a safe escort home on foot.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • March 28, 2019

Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools and Gadsden Elementary are launching a new initiative to provide students with a safe escort home on foot. The initiative is called “The Walking School Bus.”

School leaders have formed a new method of transporting students home on foot, called “The Walking School Bus.”

"The safe routes initiative is actually established for the students to be able to walk to and from safely. To school and from school," said Cpl. Lisa Darby with the Chatham county board of education police.

Students who live near the Gadsden Elementary school will be escorted home on foot by teachers, members of the school staff or volunteers. The Walking School Bus is designed to ensure safety for students on their way home.

According to Cpl. Darby, the students will be escorted in a single line and patrolled on all sides.

Currently, Cpl. Darby said, the school only escorts students home on two routes that were carefully considered.

"We went out into the community and the things that we look for is like blight, we look for any type of dangerous objects or anything that can be in the area. People lingering around," Cpl. Darby said.

Cpl. Darby hopes that the Walking School Bus will help reduce the bad behavior that sometimes occurs after school hours.

"This will deter kids from like fighting, bullying, also like any other potential crime that... can harm the students" Cpl.Darby said.

The district is looking to implement this initiative at other schools.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

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