This new 2015 30-passenger School Bus, purchased with a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, provides transportation to and from the classroom for 130 days each year. Each child is secured in a safety seat in the bus that is equipped with first aid and Bloodborne pathogens kits, fire extinguisher, non-skid flooring, seat belt cutter to be used in an emergency, and a cell phone.
By Head Start regulations, a Bus Monitor is required on all routes. The Bus Monitor is responsible for assisting the driver in ensuring the safety of the children while they ride; assisting the children to board and exit the school bus; assisting the driver during emergencies, accounting for the children at all times; and communicating with the center staff and parents/guardians. The Driver must have a CDL with school bus endorsement. Each staff is provided with an intensive orientation and training to equip them with the proper tools to oversee young children on a school bus.
This bus has an electronic alarm system that must be deactivated when the school bus is turned off. The system is deactivated at the back of the bus; the driver must turn off his/her bus, walk to the back of the bus while scanning under and on the seats to ensure that all children have exited the bus; and then the alarm system is deactivated.
At each monthly Board of Directors meeting, the Bradford-Tioga Head Start management staff provide an overview of a different component. This provides the Board with an overview of each service area of the program.
Bradford-Tioga Head Start (BTHS) is in its thirty-seventh year of providing services to children and families in Bradford and Tioga Counties. North Penn Comprehensive Health Services was BTHS’ grantee up to January 31, 2014. As of February 1, 2014, Bradford-Tioga Head Start, Inc. became its own grantee and is operating as a stand-alone entity with its own Board of Directors. The composition of the Board comprises expertise from the areas of fiscal, legal, early childhood education, leadership, parent, economic development, human resources, health, human services, and the arts.
Bradford-Tioga Head Start, Inc. is a program which offers state and federally funded programs for pregnant mothers, families and their children, newborn up to the age of 5; this includes Early Head Start, Head Start, and Pre-K Counts services. Its mission “… provides exceptional, educational opportunities and high quality, supportive services which empower children and families to grow and thrive.” For more information call 570-638-1400, visit www.bradfordtiogahs.org or find them on Facebook.