Protecting your children's ride to school

A weekend arrest of a Tulsa Public Schools bus driver raises questions about who's on the road with your children. <br><br>News on 6 anchor Terry Hood explains what Tulsa Public Schools does to screen

Monday, February 23rd 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A weekend arrest of a Tulsa Public Schools bus driver raises questions about who's on the road with your children.

News on 6 anchor Terry Hood explains what Tulsa Public Schools does to screen folks applying to drive school buses.

Tulsa Public Schools officials say they have several safeguards in place to protect your children on their way to and from school. And the arrest of a school bus driver last weekend is very rare.

TPS school bus driver Johnny Brown was arrested early Sunday. Police found a pound of marijuana and two loaded guns in his car. TPS suspended Brown with pay until they complete an investigation. Before anyone gets behind the wheel of a school bus, they have to pass a series of tests.

TPS runs an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation background check on all employees who deal with children. On top of that, all 330 bus drivers are subject to random drug testing and their driving records are checked twice a year.

Transportation officials say they try to be as thorough as possible when selecting drivers. TPS transportation director Bob Haddox: "I can understand how parents can be concerned but I would like them to know we go through many steps to make sure anybody who drives the bus is in the best condition they can be in."

Transportation officials say the bus driver who was arrested had no prior record and he also passed a drug test before he was hired.