Last updated: 21st November 2005

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JOB OPPORTUNITY:
Walking School Bus Program Coordinator

21st November, 2005

Walking School Bus Program Coordinator

Are you motivated?
Are you well-organized?
Do you enjoy working with kids?

The PedNet Coalition is seeking a qualified person to coordinate its Walking School Bus program, which provides a supervised, daily walk-to-school service in Columbia.

Requirements/assets:
Great communication skills
Experience in program design
Ability to select, train and coordinate adult mentors

Half-time position, $1,250 per month

Send resume by Friday, December 2 to:
The PedNet Coalition, PO Box 7124, Columbia, MO 65205



Contents:

What is a Walking School Bus?
Pilot Programs in Columbia
New Walking School Bus Program
Frequently-Asked Questions


What is a Walking School Bus?

A Walking School Bus is a group of (typically about 10) children who are accompanied by one or more adult "drivers" on their walks to and from school. Usually, the students live near one another, so the adult "driver" will walk the group through the neighborhood, picking up students at designated "bus stops." The program is very popular and effective with elementary age children (K-5).

The benefit of the Walking School Bus is that it provides a consistent, supervised system in which children can walk under the supervision of adults - either parents or other adult mentors. A Walking School Bus program increases safe passage of students who already walk, and encourages additional students to walk, introducing them to an important and easy form of exercise. Walking to school is a seamless way for kids to achieve the 30-60 minutes of physical activity they need each day to maintain a healthy weight. It reduces automobile traffic, particularly near schools during drop-off and pick-up times, and thereby increases pedestrian safety and reduces air pollution. It strengthens communities by getting families to work together for a common good. It introduces children to an increasing number of caring adults. It is an activity that is greatly enjoyed by students and parents.

Walking School Bus programs are popular in England and New Zealand, and in a number of U.S. cities - for example, Chicago and Atlanta.

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Pilot Programs in Columbia

Over the last 18 months, the PedNet Coalition, in partnership with the Columbia/Boone County Health Department, Boone Hospital, and other public and private entities, has developed a popular program to encourage children to walk to school.

With funds from an Active Living by Design grant awarded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, PedNet has organized monthly Walk-to-School Days at four elementary schools close to downtown Columbia. Children are encouraged to walk to school on a specified date by offering a special breakfast and prize drawing at school for walkers. For children who live too far from school to walk all the way, a "staging post" is established about one mile from school where parents can drop off their children. Suitable locations include the public library, public recreation center, or shopping malls, as long as there is space for cars to drop kids, and a safe route to school. Project organizers, teachers and some parents walk with the group. Local celebrities such as the mayor, local TV or radio hosts, and college athletes are also invited.

Each monthly Walk-to-School Day typically attracts 100-200 children. However, children need to walk to school every day in order to make a sustained impact on their physical activity rates and obesity levels. To encourage families to make a lifestyle change, a Walking School Bus pilot program was established in April 2005. The program was expanded this fall, when nine Walking School Bus teams consisting of 6-14 children operated at four elementary schools. For each team, parents worked out a rotation so that at least two parents committed to lead the group on each walk. Reflective safety vests, specially-designed T-shirts, and a flag were provided.

All of the children and parents have enjoyed the project. The children have invented games such as waving at passing cars and cheering if the driver waves or honks back. During the first week, a number of new families joined the Walking School Bus teams, after seeing them walking through the neighborhood.

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New Program

Thanks to a new Healthy and Active Communities grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health, we are planning to further establish and expand the Walking School Bus program next spring. The new program will be set up and managed by the newly appointed Walking School Bus Program Coordinator.

The target audience will be the families living within one mile of selected elementary schools in Columbia. According to Columbia Public Schools policy, these families do not receive a bussing service. Surveys indicate that most of these children are driven to school rather than walking, and a common reason given by parents is the inconvenience and time taken to walk to school and back in the morning. To address this concern, we will appoint adult mentors as Walking School Bus "drivers," to provide a fully reliable Walking School Bus service. An important task for the Walking School Bus Program Coordinator (with help from current staff) will be to train and supervise these mentors, all of whom will undergo criminal background checks.

Families living within 1 mile of school will be recruited through advertizing in the schools and school publications. Their homes will be plotted on a city map and the Walking School Bus routes will be designed in such a way that no child will walk more than one block from his/her home to the Walking School Bus Stop. The routes will not necessarily take the shortest distance from the start point to school. Parents will be required to sign a liability waiver to participate. The routes and schedules will be published.

Another important element of the Walking School Bus Program Coordinator's job will be to develop fun games and activities for children to play while walking to school. This will require creativity and a familiarity with elementary age children.

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Frequently-Asked Questions

When will the job start and how long will the contract be?
The Walking School Bus Program Coordinator position will start in January, 2006 (exact date negotiable). The successful candidate will work for the PedNet Coalition as an independent contractor and a 12-month contract will be offered. Grant funding is available for 2 years so a second 12-month contract will be offered, assuming satisfactory performance. Future grant funding may become available to continue the program beyond two years.

What are the hours of work and how flexible are they?
This is a half-time position, i.e. 20 hours per week. The specific hours of work can be flexible initially, but during actual presentations of the Walking School Bus Program (for example, the Spring Program will take place in April and May, 2006) the WSB Coordinator will need to be on duty during the morning walk to school (typically 7:45-8:45am) to deal with any problems that may arise.

What will the rate of pay be, and will benefits be offered?
The equivalent full-time rate of pay is $30,000 per year. This is a half-time (0.5 FTE) position, and so the actual compensation will be $15,000 per year. Payments of $1,250 will be made on the 15th of each month. The Pednet Coalition does not provide benefits to its contractors and does not deduct tax contributions. Each contractor must declare his/her income to the IRS.

Where will the WSB Coordinator work?
The Pednet Coalition does not currently have an office, although we expect to have one by fall, 2006. Like all PedNet contractors, the new WSB Coordinator will work from his/her own home. Frequent (at least weekly) meetings will be arranged, and members of the Project Team will communicate via telephone and electronic mail.

What will the main duties be?

January-March: April-May: June-August: September-…: Where can I find more information?
If you have further questions, please call Ian Thomas on 573-445-2928. To apply, please send your resume to The PedNet Coalition, PO Box 7124, Columbia, MO 65205 by Friday, December 2.

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