Merry Ryan has been chauffeuring children to and from school for 22 years, but three years ago when she came to the Vicksburg Warren School District, things changed.

There’s a focus on defensive driving, Ryan said.

“I cannot even believe the safety record here,” she said. “It is amazing.”

Ryan said bus drivers always have to consider the cargo they carry.

“You’re not a bully,” she said. “You need to try to be on time, but it’s more import just to get there — arrive alive.”

Transportation Supervisor Robert Bass said that during the summer his mechanic staff goes over each bus, from front to back and top to bottom to check everything.

“We’ve got to make sure our buses are safe for the upcoming school year,” he said.

During the summer, Bass said, his department is busy recertifying drivers and recruiting new drivers.

“Over the summer, the old staff has to be recertified,” he said. “They have to be recertified every other year.”

One of the changes in procedure this year is the “bus empty” signs drivers are required to stick to the back window of the buses once they complete their routes, Bass said.

“They’re required to do a walkthrough to make sure they don’t have any sleeping children on the bus,” he said. “They put the sign on the back of the window to let you know they’ve done the walk through and there are no children on the bus.”

Bass said Monday will be the first day of school and the public needs to be aware the buses will be out.

“Make sure you are careful in school zones and watch for stopped buses loading and unloading students,” he said.

Bass said he didn’t want to brag, but the district’s driving record is impressive, adding he believed he had some of the best drivers in the state.

Bus driver Brenda Brown has been driving for 28 years and said she knows what she expects of riders now.

“I love for my students to be at the bus stop on time with their parents,” she said.

“There should be no playing around at the bus stop. They need to follow my directions on crossing at the bus stop, 10 feet out, looking at me. They need to stay seated at all times and follow my directions.”