The School Bus Sign Project is a student-led innovation designed to enhance transportation safety and efficiency for elementary school students across the district. Spearheaded by Project Manager Ben LaCount and Assistant Project Lead Levi Martin, this initiative introduces a simple yet effective visual system that helps young students easily identify their buses—even when routes or buses change unexpectedly.
This project was born from a common issue observed in school transportation: students, especially those in early grades, often struggle to recognize bus numbers, especially when a different bus is used for their route. Whether due to maintenance, emergencies, or scheduling adjustments, it’s not uncommon for the Transportation Department to swap out buses. Unfortunately, this can lead to confusion, delays, and even safety concerns for students who might board the wrong bus or become anxious about their transportation routine.
To solve this problem, the student team developed a system of animal-themed bus signs. Each bus is assigned a unique animal image—such as a tiger, elephant, frog, or penguin—that is easy for young children to recognize and remember. By focusing on visuals instead of numbers or text, the project prioritizes accessibility and understanding, even for students who are still learning to read or who speak limited English.
These signs were custom-designed using 3-D printing technology, ensuring they are durable, colorful, and tailored to the needs of the district. A strong magnetic backing allows the signs to be easily and securely attached to any school bus. This interchangeability is a key component of the system’s success: if a bus has to be swapped out for any reason, the Transportation Director can simply move the appropriate animal sign to the replacement bus, ensuring continuity and minimizing confusion for students, staff, and parents.
The project took approximately four months to complete, from concept to district-wide implementation. The students were responsible for every stage of development—brainstorming ideas, designing the signs, printing the prototypes, testing magnet strengths, and coordinating with the Transportation Department. They also created demonstrations to showcase how the signs work in real-world scenarios. These demonstrations are now part of an ongoing effort to promote the system and offer training to transportation staff, school administrators, and other student groups who may wish to replicate the model.
Beyond the immediate practical benefits, the School Bus Sign Project highlights the power of student innovation and leadership. It exemplifies how students can identify real-world problems in their communities and use technology and teamwork to find impactful solutions. Project leaders Ben LaCount and Levi Martin demonstrated outstanding dedication and project management skills, coordinating schedules, troubleshooting design challenges, and ensuring the final product was both functional and professional.
Today, the system is in use across the entire district, improving transportation for hundreds of elementary students every day. Feedback from drivers, teachers, parents, and students has been overwhelmingly positive. Students now feel more confident and independent during dismissal times, and transportation staff have reported fewer delays and less confusion when buses are substituted.
The School Bus Sign Project stands as a model for how practical, thoughtful design—combined with student creativity and leadership—can make a meaningful difference in our schools. By blending innovation, safety, and accessibility, this project is not only improving the day-to-day lives of students but also demonstrating the potential of project-based learning and real-world application in education.