SPOKANE, Wash. — Every weekday morning at 8 a.m., 42 Regal Elementary students hear a knock on their door. It’s their “Walking School Bus.”
The program pairs teachers and volunteers with students who need help getting to school. The volunteers walk door-to-door, collecting students and walking them safely to school each day.
“We’re out there trying to make sure that these kids safely get here,” said Kevin Hutton, a Walking School Bus volunteer.
The program started to help students with attendance problems. Tony Debari, a counselor at Regal Elementary School, said transportation issues often kept students from attending school.
“Sometimes it was like I had a family where a tire literally fell off their car, and they weren’t able to drive to school anymore,” Debari said. “Sometimes it’s maybe a student’s giving the parent a hard time waking up and getting ready for school.”
The program has become much more than transportation help.
The Walking School Bus has built trust between students and school staff. Hutton said relationships have grown as students became comfortable with the daily routine.
“To see how the trust factor has come into play. They feel a lot more comfortable knowing that we’re going to be there,” Hutton said. “At first, it was a whole lot of looks like, ‘Hi, what are you doing?’ But now they actually look forward to it.”
The program shows clear results. Debari reports that 88% of students in the Walking School Bus have improved their attendance. Most participating students now miss nine or fewer days per year.
School staff have also noticed students are more excited about school. The morning walks have become a positive start to each day.
“When we started, we were very much waking the kids up out of bed. We were kind of the alarm clock,” Debari said. “Now they’re ready to go for school. They’re excited to see you.”
The volunteers also enjoy the program. Hutton finds the daily interactions rewarding.
“I think they’ve made a difference in my life,” Hutton said. “It’s just they’re happy. They’re just great kids. And this gives them something to look forward to.”
The Walking School Bus runs Monday through Friday. Volunteers maintain consistent routes and schedules. The program helps students arrive at school safely while building relationships.
The program helps families who struggle to get their children to school consistently. The daily walks create a support network for students who may face challenges at home.
Regal Elementary School plans to expand the Walking School Bus program next year. The expansion would help more students and families who could benefit from the transportation help and community support.
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