Cameras Will Catch Drivers Who Pass Stopped SC School Buses

Drivers who decide to pass a stopped South Carolina school bus that has its flashing lights on and arms extended better be prepared for a hefty fine.

The South Carolina Department of Education has announced it's beginning to add cameras to the stop-arms on the newest buses rolling out.  Those cameras will be used to detect vehicles that pass buses while the lights are flashing and stop-arms extended.  Officials say an alert will be sent to the Department of Education. In addition, images of the vehicle will be forwarded to law enforcement.

Get caught and you'll face getting a ticket that carries a fine of $1,062. Not only that, but you'll also get six points against your driver's license.

"If your child was to get hit and possibly killed, his whole life is worth more than $1,062 and six points off your license," said South Carolina Highway Patrol Commander Col. Christopher Williamson.

South Carolina logged more than 3,700 stop-arm violations last year, according to Williamson.

The first stop-arm cameras will be installed on the first 160 electric buses coming to South Carolina.  Officials say they are already taking a look at retrofitting older buses with the cameras in the future.

School bus safety is a top priority for the South Carolina Department of Education.

"We have lighting on the bus alternating lights stop arms.  We are in the process of adding a driver alert on the back of the door which will alert drivers that are approaching the bus from the rear that the bus is preparing to stop," said Department of Education Safety Director Richard Podmore.

South Carolina Law Requires the Following:

 Drivers in South Carolina Do Not Have to Stop Around a School Bus when:

South Carolina Department of Education officials announced the additional safety measures coming to school buses as part of National School Bus Safety Week, which runs through October 20.

The Aiken County Public School District will be welcoming 5 new principals for the 2023-2024 school year.

Learn a little about each new principal here.

Dr. Renee Bryant-Evans has been named the new principal for Chukker Creek Elementary School ahead of the 2023-24 school year.

Dr. Bryant-Evans’ academic background includes a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University and an Educational Specialist Degree in Elementary Education from Troy State University. She earned a Master of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education from Fort Valley State University and her Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education from Georgia College and State University.

She spent 12 years as a classroom teacher before serving in school administration and has served as Assistant Principal for Oak Hill Elementary, Rocky Plains Elementary, and Newton High School, Principal of Gadsden Elementary School, and Senior Officer for Teaching, Learning, and Leadership Development for K-12 Transformation Schools.  Dr. Bryant-Evans most recently served as Acting Associate Superintendent for K-12 Transformation Schools for Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools.

Jacqueline Osteen is the new principal at Millbrook Elementary for the 2023-24 school year.

Osteen began her career in education as a Special Education Aide at Chukker Creek Elementary School. She went on to teach 6th Grade ELA at Saluda Middle School before returning to Aiken County Public Schools, where she taught 5^th and 3^rd Grade at Gloverville and was named the school’s Teacher of the Year in 2016. She later taught 5^th Grade at Aiken Elementary before joining Langley-Bath-Clearwater Middle School’s Administrative Team as an assistant principal in 2020.

She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina Aiken in 2012 and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of South Carolina in 2017.

Kippy Kelly is the new principal at J.D. Lever Elementary School. She served as the assistant principal for the last five years at J.D. Lever Elementary School.

Kelly’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina Aiken along with a Masters in Administration and Supervision and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership, both from Clemson University. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership.

North Augusta native Dede Scott has been named Hammond Hill Elementary School’s new principal for the 2023-24 school year.

Scott began her career as a fourth-grade teacher at Belvedere Elementary School, and also served there as a first-grade teacher. She went on to spend 12 years at Mossy Creek Elementary School, teaching first, third, and fourth grades and serving as the school’s K-5 Math Content Interventionist. She took on the role of District Elementary Math Content Interventionist in 2017.

Scott is a graduate of North Augusta High School. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts with a Minor in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina Aiken and a Master’s Degree in Supervision and Administration from Southern Wesleyan University.

Latonia Evans is the new principal at Leavelle McCampbell Middle School for the 2023-24 school year.

After 12 years in the classroom, Evans transitioned into Administration as an assistant principal at Leavelle McCampbell. Most recently, she served as an assistant principal at Schofield Middle School.

Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education with a major in Middle Grades Education along with a Master of Education with a major in Curriculum and Instruction, both from Augusta State University. She received an Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Georgia Regents University in 2014.