AGAWAM – The Agawam School Committee hosted its first meeting of the new term on Jan. 11, hearing an update on the bus safety patrol at Granger and Robinson Park schools.

Two student patrollers from Granger, Joseph Cravo and Mary Moriarty, shared their thoughts on the program, along with Keelyn Brittain from Robinson Park.

“The students on my bus have been behaving better since the safety patrol started. Me and all the other bus patrollers give out tickets to students that behave. It gives them a reason to be good on the bus. I’ve been a part of this program for two years and I’ve had a lot of fun doing it,” said Cravo.

Moriarty said, “I think safety patrol is important because it helps all the kids on the bus stay safe. When kids are in the aisle, it is my job to remind them that they shouldn’t be in the aisle, because they could fall out of their seats and get hurt. I also remind them to keep their masks on, so we don’t spread germs.”

Brittain said, “A few things that are important about being a safety patrol monitor is helping the bus driver. Some ways to help the bus driver are by not flipping over seats, not throwing things, not going under things and especially no yelling — because if you yell on the bus, it might distract the bus driver.”

Brittain added that when handing out a ticket, in exchange for a toy every other Friday, she likes to see students “smiling underneath their masks.”

Principal Stephanie Gendron from Granger School said this program began in the 2019-20 school year, when she worked as the lead teacher at Granger, alongside Principal Cheryl Salamao, who is now the assistant superintendent. At the time, Gendron had also been a part of the PBIS – positive behavioral interventions and supports – team at Granger for 12 years.

“One thing we noticed was there was an increase in [disciplinary] write-ups that were happening on the bus,” said Gendron. She worked with two other members from the PBIS team to brainstorm ideas. Together, they developed the Student Safety Patrol.

The designated patrollers, as described by Robinson Park School Principal Stephanie Harris, are “responsible grade 3 and 4 students, selected due to their respectful behavior both in school and on the bus.”

Patrollers are expected to model good behavior and issue “bus tickets” to students whom they see being respectful on the bus.

“This would assist younger students,” said Gendron. For example, the older students can read books to the younger ones, play a game with them to keep them seated and entertained, provide them with gentle reminders if necessary, and so on.

Every week, the patrollers meet with the lead teachers from each school – Andrea Polley at Granger, and Pamela Rivers at Robinson Park – to discuss the “glows and grows of the week,” said Harris. Here, they brainstorm, problem solve, discuss bus expectations, etc.

Harris said the students are reminded that they are not in a position of authority, but instead aim to reward others for their behaviors.

“If they see a student not doing the right thing, they may provide a gentle reminder and they may need to inform the bus driver, but that is the extent,” said Harris. “Their job is to focus on praising, not punishing.”

At Robinson Park School, patrollers rotate every two weeks, allowing each well-behaved third- and fourth-grader an opportunity to serve in the role.
Harris shared that the purpose of implementing student safety patrol is to reinforce school and bus behavioral expectations, allow the bus drivers to keep their main focus on the road, and to instill a sense of responsibility and pride within the patrollers.

Gendron said the numbers show the program is working.

“During the 2018-19 school year, Granger had a total of 149 write-ups, 31 (21 percent) of which were on the bus. This total was equal to the number of referrals from the playground (i.e., outdoor recess) that year,” said Gendron.
As students spend more time on the playground than on the bus, Gendron said this data was “troublesome.” At that point, safety patrol had not been instituted. Write-ups had increased by nearly 14 percent since 2016.

After the student safety patrol began in October 2019, “Bus write-ups decreased to 16 out of 87, which is 18 percent of the total,” said Gendron. Due to a shortened school year as a result of COVID-19, the principals looked at percentages rather than totals to evaluate the program.

The 2021-22 school year began with eight referrals at Granger, and two at Robinson Park. In October, both schools implemented the student safety patrol, resulting in no referrals for the months of November and December.
Gendron added that when students are written up, they can be suspended from the bus, imposing a burden on parents who now become responsible for driving their child to and from school.

From both schools, bus drivers shared their approval of this program, with a majority believing it improves rider behavior. Mayor William Sapelli, himself a former superintendent and principal of Robinson Park School, also lauded the program.

“I really like the approach you take – it’s a positive approach,” Sapelli said. “You give tickets for being good, not tickets for being bad.”

Midterm assessments on hold

Superintendent Sheila Hoffman said, “After much thought, consideration and feedback, traditional midterm assessments at the high school are on hold this year, similar to many other area high schools.”

Final exams are still scheduled for June, but a decision on whether to cancel them will be made “based on variables at that time,” she continued.
Although midterms will not take place, typical unit-based and project-based assessments will continue.

Increase in COVID-19 cases

After returning from holiday break, Hoffman said COVID-19 positive cases have risen for both staff and students. Although they continue to wear masks and keep a 3-foot distance when feasible, “case numbers are still high.”

Hoffman asked families for their patience as the schools continue to conduct proper contact tracing and safety measures.

Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley this month extended the state’s mask requirement in schools through Feb. 28. This will be evaluated following the extension.

For the latest COVID-19 guidance, visit www.agawamed.org.

Committee names officers

Meeting for the first time in 2022, the School Committee selected a new vice chair and secretary for the two-year term. Dawn (Dube) DeMatteo nominated Shelley Borgatti-Reed for vice chair. The motion was seconded by Wendy Rua and members voted 7-0 in favor.

Next, Rua nominated Kerri O’Connor for secretary. Once again, the committee voted unanimously in favor.

Sapelli serves ex-officio as chair of the School Committee.