09/03/2026
From Chief Satterly and Superintendent Benjamin
🚌 Back to School Safety Alert for Kalama Families! 🚲
As the new school year kicks off, we’re asking all drivers to use extra caution around our walking, biking, and bus-riding Chinooks.
Please remember: Drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus face a mandatory $500 fine that cannot be waived, reduced, or suspended.
To ensure our students stay safe, we’ve partnered with the Kalama Police Department. Beginning the week of September 21 (calls permitting), Kalama PD will be following school buses throughout the city to monitor traffic behavior and keep our routes secure.
The Eye-Opening Stats: • Washington bus drivers documented 960 illegal passes in a single day—that’s over 172,000 violations in a school year. • Nearly 341,000 WA students ride the bus daily, covering almost 100 million miles each year.
Please slow down, eliminate distractions, and always stop when a bus has its red lights flashing and stop paddle extended. Thank you for keeping our kids safe from the front door to the school door! 🛑