Valparaiso Community Schools is offering the use of its buses during potential emergencies. Superintendent Dr. Jim McCall says he's been working on a policy for months, but the recent incident in Warsaw highlighted its importance.
"A bus, not of Warsaw's, had been in an accident, and they were able to utilize Warsaw buses to transport 20 of the passengers to a local hospital for evaluation," McCall told the Valparaiso School Board Thursday.
Board members agreed to authorize the use of the district's buses by government officials during declared emergencies. McCall said that followed discussions with the Porter County Sheriff's Department, other local emergency personnel and the school corporation's insurance company.
"In cases of local, state or national emergency, to be able to utilize school buses for mass transit is an important part of any safety plan," McCall explained.
The school board agreed to enact the policy immediately, but it will still have to approve it on second reading in December.
