HOUSTON -- When bus drivers for the Houston Independent School District head back to school this month, they will be keeping their eyes out for more than just students. They will on the lookout for any suspicious terrorist-type activity, officials told News2Houston Thursday.

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Bus Drivers On Alert For Suspicious Activity

A training session was held for bus drivers, including how to look for signs of terrorism.

"We ask them to report anything that causes them concern into their motor pool terminal, who will immediately contact HISD police," said Bonnie Russell, HISD'S transportation manager.

"If a backpack is left and we know that our students got all the backpacks, then we're definitely looking to see if it's anything suspicious of those packages," said Joyce Fielder, an HISD bus driver. "We're taught to be cautious about everything that we do, especially with the most precious cargo -- and that's the kids and the future of the United States."

The Transportation Security Administration, under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security, helped develop the training session, which included the following.

Keep all vehicle doors, hatches and compartments locked when the bus is unattended.
Maintain a constant awareness of people and surroundings.
Watch for people in restricted areas or who appear to be conducting surveillance.
Spot and report people who abandon an item and then leave the area quickly.
Report suspicious vehicles, such as those moving erratically or appearing to follow the school bus.
Look for abandoned items that may be suspicious or dangerous, such as canisters, tanks and metal boxes, and anything that appears to be emitting a mist, gas, vapor or odor, or is connected to wires, timers, tanks or bottles.

HISD also announced Thursday that accidents involving buses were down 20 percent for the past school year.

HISD Interim Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra said the number of bus accidents from August to May in the 2003-2004 school year was 411, down from 511 the previous school year.

Saavedra attributed the declining rate to its fleet of bus drivers, as well as a reduced number of miles its buses cover every year.

"I really believe that the declining accident rate can be attributed, in part, to our very dedicated and very conscientious bus drivers," Saavedra said.

"The drivers are more experienced and they're very selective about who they're allowing to drive the buses," said James Gross, a former bus driver.

Saavedra said that the more than 800 HISD school bus drivers on the road twice a day could help deter terrorist activities.

"It's about keeping our eyes and ears open and being aware of things that could pose a danger to our citizens, including our students and their parents," Saavedra said. "HISD is part of this community, and that means we're part of protecting this community from those who would do us harm. You're carrying every day our most precious assets -- our children."

Beginning Sept. 1, school bus drivers will receive an across-the-board 3 percent pay raise, approved by the school board in June.

More than 50,000 Houston school children ride HISD buses every school day.

School starts on Aug. 16.