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School Bus Information

4/21/2023

School BusInformation4/21/2023

Through quality education our students will achieve personal success

The Telluride School District will support all students in striving for their

highest potential through quality academics while addressing individual needs

within a safe and healthy community.

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

Dear Parents, Students, Staff, and Friends


This week we had several instances of vehicles passing school buses with activated lights while discharging and picking up children. With the assistance of all agencies (Telluride Marshal’s Department, Mountain Village PD, San Miguel Sheriffs Office) we have been able to issue citations and educate drivers.


42-4-1903. School buses - stops - signs - passing


(1)(a) The driver of a motor vehicle upon any highway, road, or street, upon meeting or overtaking from either direction any school bus that has stopped, shall stop the vehicle at least twenty feet before reaching the school bus if visual signal lights as specified in subsection (2) of this section have been actuated on the school bus. The driver shall not proceed until the visual signal lights are no longer being actuated. The driver of a motor vehicle shall stop when a school bus that is not required to be equipped with visual signal lights by subsection (2) of this section stops to receive or discharge school children.


This violation is a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense. Class 2 misdemeanor traffic offenses in Colorado are punishable by 10 to 90 days in county jail and/or $150 to $300 in fines, plus DMV points. Traffic misdemeanor convictions can never be sealed from criminal records.


I am happy to report that we have had no repeat offenders yet.


In an effort to take preventative vs. reactive action I wanted to send out this communication to help educate all drivers, new and experienced.


In short, all drivers, on all roads, in both directions, must stop when coming upon a school bus that is stopped and in the process of discharging or picking up students. Please remember just because you do not see children in the road does not mean they are not actively loading or unloading. Some of the school buses do not have lights and stop signs but this rule still applies. When the buses start moving again that will be your clear indication that it is safe to proceed.


Please help us keep the kids safe and report any violations or dangerous behavior you may see!!!


James Moody, SRO, Deputy Marshal

Town of Telluride | Marshal's Department

PO Box 397 | Telluride, CO 81435

Direct: 970.728.3818| Fax: 970.728.3863

24 HOUR DISPATCH: 970.249.9110

School Bus Drivers

Dear Families of Students who ride our school buses:


As many of you now know, we have transitioned from using our school-employed bus drivers (Carmen, Derek, and Brandon) to drivers employed by Telluride Express and contracted with the district. We had every intention of communicating this in advance of the change, and I apologize this did not happen. The transition plans did not finalize until the middle of break and with other events that happened during break the communication never was finalized and sent out.


The Telluride Express drivers did train with our own drivers over break, and that training continued into this week. I understand one mistake happened at a drop off early this week, which was due to miscommunication when our own driver missed being on an after-school run. Other than that, we believe the transition has gone successfully.


The Telluride Express drivers we are using are CDL-S trained (“S” for School Bus Supplement) and are vetted and trained through Telluride Express and the district as our own drivers would be. This means these drivers are trained at a higher level than the Telluride Express drivers who only drive the shuttle vans. The new drivers have also received training on our bus behavior protocols and will be receiving more. We are confident the transition will continue to be smooth and the use of Telluride Express effective.


Please feel free to reach out with any additional questions you might have.


John Pandolfo

Superintendent