School bus evacuation drills taking place next week

Dear CBSD Community, 

Next week (March 23-27), CBSD Transportation staff will be conducting mandatory school bus evacuation drills on school property in predetermined safety zones. These drills are an important part of our ongoing commitment to student safety and preparedness.  

One of my fondest memories as a student was the excitement of hopping off the school bus through the rear door, a small moment that felt like a big adventure. Fast forward a few decades, and it’s remarkable to see that same joy and curiosity still shining through in our students today. 

While times have changed, so have our safety standards. We continue to teach this process in a safe, structured, and supportive way. Rather than “jumping” out, students are taught to calmly sit, scooch, and exit the rear door carefully, with assistance from classmates and CBSD staff as needed. Safety, teamwork, and preparedness are at the heart of this experience. 

Schedules for the drills have been shared with schools and drivers in advance so the drills can be completed efficiently, with additional staff on hand to support our students and minimize disruptions whenever possible. 

Because safety is our number one priority, we ask for your attention and cooperation during these drills:

• When a bus is actively conducting an evacuation drill, no vehicles should approach or pass the bus 
• Once the drill is complete and the rear door of the bus is fully closed normal traffic may resume 

We recognize that these drills may temporarily slow traffic and cause minor delays, not only on our campuses and around our buildings, but also at individual bus stops. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we take these important steps to ensure every student knows how to respond in the unlikely event of an emergency. 

Thank you for your continued support of CBSD. Together, we are preparing our students to ride confidently, responsibly, and safely every day. 

Sincerely, 

Christopher Robbins 
Director of Transportation