Well folks, summer is about over, and that means it’s time for our kids to head back to school.

With school back in session, you’re going to see more children walking to school, riding bicycles, waiting on buses, and crossing our roads. Their safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Here’s my message, plain and simple…

Slow down. Put your phone down. Pay attention.

Those yellow school buses aren’t just another vehicle on the road—they’re carrying somebody’s son, somebody’s daughter, somebody’s grandbaby.

If you come up on a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm out, STOP. There are no excuses.

If you’re driving through a school zone, slow down and obey the speed limit. Those limits are there because children don’t always see danger the way adults do.

Over the next several weeks, deputies from the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office will have an increased presence around our schools and bus routes. We hope everyone obeys the law, but make no mistake—we WILL be enforcing it.

If you choose to ignore school bus stop laws, drive recklessly through a school zone, or endanger our children, don’t expect a warning. You can expect a citation, and if your actions rise to the level of a criminal offense, you WILL go to jail.

Our children are worth protecting, and we will not compromise when it comes to their safety.

Parents, thank you for trusting us to help keep your children safe. Teachers, thank you for investing in the next generation. Bus drivers, thank you for the job you do every single day.

Let’s all do our part to make this a safe and successful school year.

From all of us at the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, we wish every student a great first day back and a wonderful school year.

God bless our children, God bless our teachers, and God bless Pittsburg County.

Sheriff Frankie McClendon