SUGAR GROVE, Ohio — Students traveling along the rural roads of the Berne Union Local School District are safer this school year, thanks to a fleet-wide safety lighting overhaul funded by a $42,516 state grant.
Over the summer, the district installed new illuminated school bus signs, illuminated stop signs, and lighted crossover mirrors on every bus in its fleet. The upgrades are designed to make buses and loading areas dramatically more visible to oncoming traffic, particularly during dark morning and evening routes.
The new crossover mirror lights shine directly onto the pavement in front of the bus, illuminating students as they cross the road to load or unload—a critical safety enhancement for unlit rural corridors.
“Many of our roads are dark and rural, so every bit of added light helps,” said Angie Barnes, assistant supervisor of transportation and maintenance for the district. “These upgrades make our stops safer for students, and we are grateful to the state for making them possible.”
District leaders emphasized that student safety remains their top focus when updating transportation infrastructure.
“Student safety is our first priority, and these lights give our drivers and our students added protection every day,” said Superintendent Jon Parker. “We are proud that every bus in our fleet now has them.”
The funding comes from the Ohio School Bus Safety Grant Program, administered by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. Berne Union was awarded the grant in January 2026 as part of a $10 million statewide effort to help schools across Ohio add upgraded safety features to their transportation fleets.
