New School Buses Hit the Streets in Wentzville

You've probably already noticed them on subdivision streets and highways in the . The sleek design of the district's new Thomas buses definitely catches the eye.

But it's the safety features of the 21 new buses that should impress parents.

Patch met up with Director of Transportation Jennifer Simpson at the , where she pointed out the features of the new buses.

"The side windows are one of the big differences," she said. The larger windows are even more apparent when compared to district's International model buses. Visibility is a big issue when it comes to buses, since more children are hurt and killed outside of school buses than inside, Simpson said. The addition of a window near the front door allows the driver to see children near the front wheel well.

Another difference is the taller seat backs.

"The seats are built to compartmentalize in the case of an accident. That’s why you don’t need seatbelts on school buses," Simpson said.

The framework and padding of the seats is designed to serve "as a sort of cage" to protect children, she added.

Will the district eventually replace all their buses with Thomas buses?

“We’ll see,” Simpson said. "We just received them the beginning of August. I’m a big fan of International buses—I like the look of the standard school bus. I’m in the minority though, the kids really like the new ones. They are both good buses."

Thomas submitted the low bid on the new buses, but the buses' future with the district depends upon their performance and reliability and how the company backs up their product, Simpson said.