Transportation Director receives county safety award

Congratulations to Transportation Director Steve Olson for receiving the 2015 Traffic Safety Super Star Award for the Educational Outreach category. Olson will be recognized at the Walla Walla County Traffic Safety/DUI Task Force Safety Awards Program January 21.

Steve Olson manages the Southeast Area Transportation Cooperative which provides bus maintenance and repair service to Walla Walla Public Schools, Prescott and Dixie School Districts. WWPS has 41 buses and 15 vans. Prescott has nine buses while Dixie has six. The Walla Walla Public Schools bus fleet logs more than 350,000 miles annually which includes daily routes and extracurricular trips. He manages a staff of nearly 50 employees, including bus drivers, mechanics, substitutes and support staff.

Steve is charged with overseeing the maintenance to ensure the entire fleet meets Washington State Patrol standards. These vehicles can be inspected at any time and will be expected to pass. These inspections include tires, brakes, lights, running condition and other aspects of the fleet. For more than 10 years the district has received excellent ratings on the bi-annual state fleet inspections.

Steve Olson also coordinates bus driver training, which includes slick road conditions, congested traffic and emergencies. He has also embraced the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to improve student behavior and school bus climate. PBIS encourages proactive strategies for defining, teaching, and supporting appropriate student behaviors to create positive school environments.

The Southeast Washington Transportation Cooperative also saves partner districts approximately 50 percent on bus maintenance and repair service which further promotes safety. A well serviced fleet also saves taxpayer money over time. He also is the primary technical expert for the district when it comes to making a decision to close or delay schools due to weather.