Every school day, thousands of Lake Pend Oreille School District students start and finish their school day on a bus. Research shows that safe, reliable transportation is critical for student success, yet the experience of the bus ride receives little attention. That’s not the case at Lake Pend Oreille School District, thanks to James Koehler, Director of Transportation, who applied for the Buster the Bus grant, and thanks to the generous support of PAFE donors who have made this program possible. 

For the past thirteen years (and counting), nearly 1,100 students per year begin their bus-riding journey with lessons from Buster, a fully animated school bus robot who creates a positive environment, teaching elementary students the fundamentals of bus safety. 

What Makes Buster Special

Buster is a remote-controlled robot who moves, talks, and interacts with students. Like a real bus, Buster has headlights, taillights, flashing warning lights, and a stop sign. Through this friendly and interactive format, students learn critical safety lessons that make the bus environment a positive one and could potentially save their lives.

The program covers essential topics, including:

• Walking safely to and from the bus
• Waiting at the bus stop
• Understanding the “Danger Zone” around buses
• Proper crossing, loading, and unloading techniques
• Respectful behavior on the bus
• Emergency evacuation procedures
• Railroad crossing safety
• The importance of listening to the bus driver

But beyond the technical skills, Buster builds confidence. He helps young students feel prepared and safe about riding a school bus—setting them up to arrive at school ready to learn.

A Year-Round Presence

Buster maintains an active presence throughout the school year:

• Ready! For Kindergarten (Spring): Pre-K students get their first introduction to Buster in small groups, learning basic school bus safety concepts before they ever set foot on a bus. 
• School Bus Safety Week (October): During this month-long celebration, Buster visits all seven elementary schools, presenting age-appropriate lessons to students from preschool through third grade.
• Love the Bus (February): This national month-long celebration promotes positive relationships between students and bus drivers. Schools display special bus-shaped boxes where K-6 students can write appreciation notes to their drivers. This practice encourages positive relationships between students and their bus drivers and reinforces school bus safety concepts.
• Community Events: Buster also makes appearances at community events, such as the 4th of July Parade, connecting with families even beyond the school environment.

See Buster in action at the Spring Ready! For Kindergarten workshop earlier this year.