Austin ISD and the City of Austin's Safe Routes to Schools partnered to emphasize safety at this year's 13th annual Back to School Bash. The event brings thousands of families each year to prepare students for the new school year.
"We're proud to partner with the City of Austin once again for the Back to School Bash--giving families a one-stop-shop for resources and safety information," said Superintendent Paul Cruz. "I also want to thank our sponsors for their support and commitment to our students and families."
Hundreds of booster seats, eye exams and glasses, wellness screenings and haircuts and more than 4,500 backpacks full of school supplies were given to school-aged children at this free event.
The Back to School Bash aims to give students everything they need to take advantage of the quality education offered at AISD, while promoting safety in and outside the school.
Since 1991, the city of Austin's Safe Routes to School Program has educated students on pedestrian and bicycle safety by making walking and biking to school safe, convenient and fun for students and families.
AISD urges community members to recognize the importance of school bus safety, especially by not passing school buses that are displaying flashing red lights.
AISD's Department of Transportation continues to encourage drivers to reduce their speed when driving near schools and to follow posted signs that require drivers to slow down to 20 miles per hour or less when lights are flashing. Failure to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks or stop when school bus lights are flashing and speeding through school zones when lights are flashing could result in a fine.
The district's transportation team would like to reinforce several safety tips for students:
- Always remain in direct eyesight of the bus driver.
- Arrive at the bus stop in plenty of time, at least five minutes prior to the scheduled time.
- Take 10 giant steps back from the curb while waiting for the bus and 10 steps away from the curb when exiting the bus.
- Never try to re-board the bus without the driver's permission to retrieve an item after exiting.
- Never reach underneath the bus.
- Always follow the driver's directions for how to cross the street.
- Be alert to traffic and look both ways.
- Always cross in front of the bus, but only when the bus driver signals it is safe.
This year's sponsors include A+ Federal Credit Union, Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, KLRU, Safe Kids Austin, CapMetro, Google Fiber, The Anderson Foundation,
AAA, Austin Oaks Hospital, Aveanna Healthcare, Cricket Wireless, Cross Texas Transmission, Essilor Vision Foundation, Paul Mitchell The School-Austin, Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union, Seton Healthcare Family, Tutor Doctor, Wells Fargo; media sponsors Latino 102.7, La Zeta 107.1 and Univision; and a special thanks to Capstone Real Estate Services, Inc., Centene, Charter Communications, Duo, HomeAway Inc., NFP, Peloton Land Solutions, Strive Logistics, Texas Association of School Boards, Trihydro Corporation.
The collaboration includes more than 160 departments from AISD, City of Austin and Travis County, non-government organizations and other entities that seek to help the community.