C. C. says, "PERSEVERANCE means working steadily and enduring hardships to achieve a goal without giving up."
 

Pulaski County School System Announces

Gold Star Bus Program:

Driver John Sampson chosen as the recipient of the first ‘Oscar Award’

 As part of the district-wide Character Education initiative, the Pulaski County School System announced a new program in the transportation department. The Gold Star Bus program began this month by driver John Sampson receiving the first ‘Oscar Award’ at the January Board meeting. Mr. Sampson drives bus 9500.

 The Gold Star Bus program was developed by Transportation Director Wayne Bennett, Maintenance technician Bobby Thornton, and Character Education Coordinator Wanda Gaskin.  Inspiration for the program began with Sampson.  “Several months ago, I took someone to the bus garage to show them John’s bus.  John’s bus is always immaculate.  He takes pride in his job and setting a good example for his kids,” said Superintendent Tim Eaton.  “ I said he should be recognized for the great job he does.  From this, the bus program evolved.”

The character education program already sponsors the Golden Trash Can award through the school custodians who award a Golden Trash Can to the cleanest rooms.  Because trashcans can not be on buses, Bennett came up with the idea to award an ‘Oscar’ that can be displayed on the bus.  The ‘Oscar’ is literally a beanie of the Sesame Street character who lives in the garbage can.  Samspon’s Oscar will travel with him to help inspire the students to maintain a clean and orderly bus.

All buses go through maintenance for monthly inspection. Each month, buses may be awarded a gold or silver star. These stars are placed magnetically inside the bulkhead of the bus. The criteria for a gold and silver star are GOLD: All trash is picked up from seats and floor. Bus is clean and no damage has been done to the interior of the bus. SILVER: Most all trash is picked up from seats and floor. Bus is relatively clean and no damage has been done to the interior of the bus.

If a bus is awarded a gold star, the driver and bus number will be announced at the schools the bus serves. All gold star buses will have their numbers put into a box. At the end of each month, a bus will be drawn as the GOLD STAR BUS OF THE MONTH! The driver of this lucky bus will be presented an award and a certificate for a free large pizza from Papa Johns at the next Board of Education meeting. All students that ride the bus will be awarded a FREE PARTY AT FINLEY’S FUN CENTER. The party will be on a Tuesday night from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. when the snack special is 2 slices of pizza and soft drink for $2.00.

To help in securing a gold star, drivers are encouraged to appoint a “CLEAN TEAM”.  This clean team will assist in motivating and encouraging students to maintain a gold star quality of cleanliness.

If a bus is chosen as the GOLD STAR BUS OF THE MONTH, the clean team will get a special award at Finley’s Fun Center. They will be given a free laser tag game. The clean team will compete (3 vs. 3). The winning 3 will be listed at Finley’s and will compete at the end of year laser tag clean team tournament.

“This is a wonderful way to get our transportation department involved in our character education initiative.  We want them to be an active part of everything we do in this system, since they are such a valuable support service for our families and schools,” added Eaton.  “Our drivers certainly deserve recognition for the great job they do.”