Awarding bus drivers

safedrive032: Awarding bus caregiversTransporting children safely to school is not easy work. Many of the students have special needs. Bus drivers encounter tough obstacles such as thick fog, rural routes and dangerous driving by other motorists. Yet, for the 2002-03 school year, Kern County Superintendent of Schools’ (KCSOS) drivers logged almost 2.3 million miles with only four preventable accidents.

On August 20, the Division of Maintenance Operations and Transportation Services honored drivers for their safe driving records. The California Highway Patrol (CHP), which certifies the drivers through testing, presented Safe Driving awards to those who had logged at least 100,000 miles without a preventable accident. Julia Beverly and Carrie Boschini topped this year’s list reaching the 600,000 mile plateau.

Transportation Services also presented its own Safe Driving pins to drivers for each year of service in which they have avoided an accident. The list started with first-timers Diana Clancy, Deanna Harvey, Ada Thomas, Rebecca Fabbri and James Juan who completed a year of service without an accident. At the top of the list were Jane Frando, Delores Henson and Julia Hughes who have not had an accident since they came to work the same year Transportation Services began, 22 years ago.

Ask any of the drivers and they will tell you how thrilled they are to receive an award, regardless of their years of service. As Clancy awaited her awards for one year and 107,860 accident free miles, she shared that transporting children was much more satisfying than her previous career in the retail industry.

“I feel like I’m helping people,” Clancy said. “It’s challenging work, and I remember that my first day was scarey. Being on the road everyday, you encounter so many drivers who aren’t always thinking about being safe. We have to be role models for the children, and I just hope in the year 2025 I’ll be going up to receive my 22 year pin just like my idols Jane, Delores and Julia.”

James Juan has been a safe driver since the day he first sat behind the wheel. That was one year ago almost to the day that he received his one year Safe Driving Pin. Another first year pin recipient, Ada Thomas, definitely feels a connection between her safe driving and the education of children. Her husband Sam is on the board of trustees of the Kern High School District.

“I log about 100 miles-a-day and like it because it gives me a chance to be outdoors,” Thomas said. “Most of my students are severely disabled or hearing impaired, and I love working with them. I know if someone was transporting my child I would want the very best and that is what I strive to be. I think getting a Safe Driving Pin is great because it means I am doing the job right and safely.”

Transportation Services Director Doug Snyder had praise for the mechanics who keep the buses running safely and particularly Julio Lebron and Tony Boles who have worked in vehicle maintenance the longest. Snyder also acknowledged the work done by transportation aides.

“Just six years ago we had no transportation aides, and today we have about 20,” Snyder said. “They are very valuable to the safe transporting of children. And I also want to thank our schedulers who receive an average of 53 requests for bus service every month.”

Presenting awards were Kern County Superintendent of Schools Larry E. Reider, Assistant Superintendents Christine Frazier and Tom Valos and CHP Officer Greg Williams.

View 2002-2003 Safe Driving Award Recipients


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