THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WTXL) -- For students in Thomasville, this is their last free weekend before it's time to board the bus and head back to school.
So parents and children will start seeing those familiar yellow buses and they may not notice the extra care taken to make sure all students riding them are safe.
"Watch out for the kids. They are our most important resource," said James Scott, Transportation Director of Thomas County Schools.
Before you board a school bus, there are specific regulations employees follow, like maintenance checks every 20 days.
"Checking all the lights, checking breaks, tires", said David Goff, Chief Mechanic of Thomas County Schools as he described the maintenance process. "General oversight of the bus." That includes seat safety, camera operations, and of course, air conditioners during the hot Summer/ Fall months!
And over the Summer break, mechanics sometimes have bigger jobs that take longer, like engine overhauls and tire replacements.
All for one specific reason, "We don't skimp student safety and a big part of that is students riding the school buses," said Scott.
And when Goff was asked about any recurring issues, he replied: "If you do the maintenance, you shouldn't have any problems. And that's the key."
