Back on the bus Back to school a busy time for school bus drivers, companies
School bus driver Don Voytek, left, goes through the process of recertification with David Good, a trainer at GG&C Bus Co. in Washington.
Matt Harding, director of support services at Canon-McMillan School District, demonstrates parallel parking.
School bus driver Don Voytek, left, does a visual inspection of the bus with David Good, a trainer at GG&C Bus Co. The inspection is a daily requirement before buses can leave the lot.
Ringgold High School students Danika Evans, right, and Abbey Powell board a bus for a field trip. Ringgold operates its own fleet of buses.
With the start of the new school year just around the corner, students and teachers aren’t the only ones getting ready. Area school districts’ bus drivers also are busy getting into gear.
Over at GG&C Bus Co., 2924 Jefferson Ave., Washington, owner David Good is busy preparing new and experienced drivers for the road. Good, a certified trainer, is in charge of making sure drivers are properly trained and certified. His task is no small feat.
“You’re carrying a lot of responsibility,” Good said of drivers’ precious cargo. “We always stress safety first, schedule second.”
Despite what some people may think, Good said bus drivers undergo a large amount of testing and screening before they reach the open road.
To start, bus drivers are required to maintain a good driving record and a commercial driver’s license. While some potential drivers already have their CDL, Good helps the vast majority of candidates obtain theirs.
All drivers are required to undergo 14 hours of classroom training, which touches on roles and responsibilities; student management and discipline; unloading and loading of students and maintenance, to name a few topics. Once the classroom training is done, candidates must pass a series of four computer tests to secure a permit in order to prepare for the road test. Good said candidates must complete six hours of on-road training and pass a skills driving test. Every four years, drivers are required to certify their license.
Additional testing and screening includes background and child abuse clearances, drug tests and a physical. Good said the whole process takes roughly a month and a half.
Training and licenses aside, Good said it takes a certain person to be a successful bus driver. Often, many drivers are retired or are women with families. Although the hours are set – drivers have a morning and evening run – the job is flexible.
“Overall, a person who drives buses likes the kids and the camaraderie of the other drivers,” Good said.
Good has been around buses since childhood, when his father, William C. Good, founded GG&C with Wendel Gower and William Clark in 1967. All three men were teachers at Trinity Area School District and would drive students to and from school.
The bus company has contracts with Trinity, Avella, McGuffey and Washington school districts. Schweinebraten Bus Co., 1196 Locust Ave., Washington, services several districts within Washington County. Several districts have their own buses and drivers. In Greene County, districts use several companies, including Fox School Bus Service.
West Greene Superintendent Thelma Szarell said school district officials meet with its transportation company before each school year to make sure the drivers “see the faces of the people they speak with on the phone with every day.” She said it’s an important meeting, which occurred this year on Aug. 13, to acquaint the drivers with principals who may have questions or are trying to resolve issues during the school year.
This year’s meeting was especially important as the district merges its two elementary schools into one.
Bus drivers aren’t the only ones responsible for safety. The state Department of Transportation warns drivers that violations of the school bus stopping law carries strong penalties. If convicted of violating the state’s school bus stopping law, drivers faces a $250 fine, five points on their driving record and a 60-day license suspension.
Good, who was a teacher himself at Keystone Oaks School District for 33 years, has also driven buses and worked for GG&C doing transit grants. “I enjoy working with the drivers and I like covering the bus runs,” Good said. “I still enjoy the kids.”
Driver Don Voytek, who has been with GG&C for six years, said the job keeps him young. Voytek retired in his early 60s and “got bored.” A chance opportunity allowed him to start driving, and he has no intention of stopping anytime soon. He works 22 hours a week during the school year, and has the option of picking up trips for after-school activities.
“I really enjoy the kids, especially the little ones,” the 68-year-old Avella resident said. “Everyday there’s something different.”
Voytek had his CDL prior to joining GG&C, and said he’s had no issues driving the “big yellow cheese.”
“You’ve got to add a touch of humor,” he said.