Clayton County schools are spending $70,000 to outfit all 500 bus drivers and monitors in uniforms as part of a homeland security upgrade.
District transportation director John Lyles said the uniforms are part of a safety enhancement program to prevent terrorists from hijacking buses.
“We wanted to be proactive in an effort to protect our children from terrorists,” Lyles said Tuesday. “Before uniforms, the kids could have a substitute bus driver and a terrorist could get on the bus and take 70 kids. Students wouldn’t know if this is the person who is supposed to drive the bus.”
All 500 bus drivers and special-education bus monitors will now be wearing red shirts, khaki pants and jackets.
The $70,000 expenditure comes as the district is losing $23 million in state aid. Last week, school officials announced 153 teachers and 102 other employees would have to be cut next school year.
“I really think at this point we need to be looking at everything we do and be very frugal in spending,” said school board member Jessie Goree. “If we’re going to provide them uniforms, we should probably provide uniforms for our students.”
Some times just saying "Hey - we were offered some money and we took it" would suffice.
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