Austin ISD Superintendent Paul Cruz helps Casis Elementary School students cross the road on the second day of the 2016-17 school year Aug. 23, 2016.[/caption]
Austin ISD's first day of school was Monday, and Superintendent Paul Cruz has been visiting campuses since then to greet students and teachers.
On Monday, Cruz visited Rodriguez Elementary School in Southeast Austin to speak about the importance of wellness efforts including breakfast nutrition as well as social and emotional learning. Later in the day, Cruz visited Becker Elementary School in South Austin to notify teacher Ali Ashley that she is a finalist for the Texas Teacher of the Year award.
On Tuesday, Cruz visited Casis Elementary School in Tarrytown, donning a yellow safety vest and stopping vehicles to allow students and parents to cross the street.
"I am a crossing guard this morning to make sure that all of our kids get to school safe, and that we're teaching safety to our students and of course to those who are driving around the schools to drive within speed limits, to look for kids," he said. "Kids are still figuring out their routes and their ways to school as well."
Austin ISD school year 2016-17 transportation facts:
About 300 school buses were on the road on Monday, AISD Director of Transportation Kris Hafezizadeh said.
The district staff includes additional bus drivers instead of a shortage this year, Hafezizadeh said.
Using on-board bus cameras, the district issued more than 6,600 violations to drivers passing by a bus from Feb. 8 to Aug. 21, Hafezizadeh said.
As of Tuesday morning, more than 2,000 parents registered for the district's Where's The Bus tracking app, Hafezizadeh said.
Due to the new districtwide bell schedule, some buses took longer than usual to drop students home in the afternoon, AISD Police Chief Eric Mendez said. When students are released later in the day, they may get caught in rush-hour traffic, he said.
Austin ISD social media posts from the first two days of school:
Austin ISD Superintendent Paul Cruz helps Casis Elementary School students cross the road on the second day of the 2016-17 school year Aug. 23, 2016.[/caption]
Austin ISD's first day of school was Monday, and Superintendent Paul Cruz has been visiting campuses since then to greet students and teachers.
On Monday, Cruz visited Rodriguez Elementary School in Southeast Austin to speak about the importance of wellness efforts including breakfast nutrition as well as social and emotional learning. Later in the day, Cruz visited Becker Elementary School in South Austin to notify teacher Ali Ashley that she is a finalist for the Texas Teacher of the Year award.
On Tuesday, Cruz visited Casis Elementary School in Tarrytown, donning a yellow safety vest and stopping vehicles to allow students and parents to cross the street.
"I am a crossing guard this morning to make sure that all of our kids get to school safe, and that we're teaching safety to our students and of course to those who are driving around the schools to drive within speed limits, to look for kids," he said. "Kids are still figuring out their routes and their ways to school as well."
Austin ISD school year 2016-17 transportation facts:
