Thank you, KLSD Bus Drivers
“Good morning, Jackson, Tamara, and Brody."
School bus driver Ed Pierotte knows the names of the children he transports by the end of September. He’s been a driver for KLSD for the past decade.
“I like what I do,” said Pierotte.
every day is school bus safety day
"Student safety is our number one priority."
Katonah-Lewisboro School District's school buses transport up to 3,500 students twice a day over fifty-four square miles of the district. They bring students to Katonah-Lewisboro’s five schools and to thirty-six private/parochial schools, as well as on many field trips and to athletic events in places including Boston, New Jersey and New York City.
Each year during National School Bus Safety Week, the third week of October, KLSD’s bus drivers visit classrooms to teach about bus safety through a program called “Classroom on Wheels.”
They review the National Association for Pupil Transportation’s top safety tips for children, which include putting all belongings in a backpack so students’ hands are free, and reminding children to look right before stepping off of the bus.
Nora Mavrommatis, Transportation Supervisor for KLSD, adds her own caution. “Nothing should be dangling from students' clothing or backpacks such as key chains, strings, or accessories which could get caught on the bus handrail or door.”
Behind the Scenes with the Transportation Department on a Snow Day
KLSD's Transportation Department starts the day early, even when the sun is shining.
"The dispatcher arrives at 5:30 a.m." said Nora Mavrommatis, Transportation Supervisor for KLSD. "Drivers leave for their middle school run about 6:15 a.m."
But when the weather is iffy, Mavrommatis wakes up at 2:00 a.m.
"When the forecast is snow or ice, I’m on the roads by 2:30 a.m.,” said Mavrommatis. “I drive for about two hours—making sure to check out the trickiest roads in Katonah-Lewisboro--including Saw Mill River Road, Todd Road, Chapel Road, Kitchawan Road, Canaan Circle, Honey Hollow, and Saddle Ridge Road.”
“I speak to Joe Posadas, Lewisboro’s Deputy Highway Superintendent—he’s also the Assistant Varsity Ice Hockey Coach at JJHS,” said Mavrommatis. “I call my counterparts in the transportation departments of North Salem, Somers, Croton, Brewster, and report what’s happening to Andrew Selesnick, Superintendent of Schools.”
Superintendent Selesnick confers with other district superintendents and decides by 4:30 a.m. if KLSD will have a snow day, delayed opening, or regular day.
“Once we have a decision, I contact the radio stations, and the District Office notifies parents by email, text, and social media,” said Mavrommatis.
Stuff the Bus
This district initiative is driven by Terry Clark, a KLSD bus driver who has been acknowledged as Employee of the Month for her exemplary attendance, safety record, and positive bus atmosphere. “It’s good to do good for others,” she said.
Did you know?
- KLSD buses drive approximately 6,300 miles per day.
- KLSD buses make approximately 3,800 starts and stops per day.
- KLSD operates thirty-seven “pushers”—a school bus that has the engine in the rear, seven conventional buses, eight large vans, five wheelchair vans, and thirty-four small vans.
- Last year, Katonah-Lewisboro School District’s school buses traveled 1,277,403 miles.
- Last year, KLSD mechanics, through the vehicle inspections with the New York State Department of Transportation, achieved a 96.3% safety rating.
- Each of the District’s vehicles is inspected by the New York State Department of Transportation twice a year.