BAY MINETTE, Ala. (WPMI) Baldwin County has had two school bus incidents recently both involving shots being fired near buses. One involved a man shooting a pellet gun at a school bus with students on board. The other a man fired a gun into the air near a bus.
With the hostage situation in Midland City, Alabama should bus drivers be armed to protect themselves as well as their little passengers?
"We are a different world. We have to train. Now am I saying that we start arming all the bus drivers absolutely not," said Baldwin Sheriff Huey Mack Jr.
In Baldwin County, school bus training centers around being aware and reporting potential problems.
"They are taught that if they observe behavior that is not typical, that they need to be thinking about reporting it or staying away from it or keeping our kids safe," said School Superintendent Dr. Alan Lee.
Procedures are in place, drivers use cell phones and cameras are on board on most buses.
"There are physical security measures we can take," said Lee.
The sheriff said just like in a school building security on a bus and a the driver's training may need to be updated.
"Video surveillance, panic alarms, emergency lock buttons," said Mack.
"The driver from Dale County is a hero, and I have been impressed with the dedication of our staff with our children. I'm sure he had that same dedication and to his family and that community I express my sympathy and admiration for that man," said Lee.
