Please be aware that Palm Beach County kids will be going back to school very soon. Superintendent Mike Burke and other school district leaders delivered information to help students, parents, and teachers plan for the upcoming academic year, which starts on August 10, 2022.  Watch the Superintendent speak here. The National Security Council recommends that parents and guardians share transportation and school safety information with children. Whether children are dropped off at school in the car line or take the bus to school, it is extremely important that they take proper safety precautions. 

Teach your children school bus safety rules and practice with them. Go to the bus stop with your child to teach them the proper way to get on and off the bus. Teach your children to stand six feet away from the curb. If your child must cross the street in front of the bus, teach him or her to walk on the side of the road until they are ten feet ahead of the bus; your child and the bus driver should always be able to see each other. Remind them do NOT talk to strangers or get in an unknown person’s car!

When driving your child to school stay alert and avoid distracted driving. No texting! Observe school zone speed limits and follow your school’s drop-off procedure. Keep your eyes open for kids darting across driveways carelessly. 

Ask your child to use both straps when wearing their backpack to evenly distribute the weight on their shoulders. Do not overstuff a backpack; it should weigh no more than 5 to 10 percent of your child’s body weight. Rolling backpacks should be used cautiously since they can create a trip hazard in crowded school hallways.