Community Education

In the Margins | Getting curious, not judgmental, about school bus drivers

Thirty years later, I can still recall the gripping sensation of fear and loss. A large yellow school bus stopped at our driveway for the first time, and my tiny daughter lugged a ridiculously oversized backpack on board. The driver winked at me because she could tell I was terrified. Off they went in a cloud of dust and diesel fumes.

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My wife and I restrained ourselves from running alongside the school bus as it accelerated away toward the rest of our daughter’s life. When you’ve poured heart and soul (and paycheck) into raising another human being, it’s tough to watch them ride away with strangers. It’s also necessary.

When school started this year, I met a fellow retiree at a Gig Harbor car club gathering. He had recently taken a job as a school bus driver – and he loved it. Frankly, I was confused. Why would a retired college professor spend his sunset years driving around the maze-like roadways of the Peninsula to shuttle kids to and from school?

But, based on the Walt Whitman-esque coaching of TV’s Ted Lasso, I became curious, not judgmental. I needed to ask more questions.

Peninsula School District operates about 100 buses on 65 routes across an area covering 114 square miles.

Entering the nerve center: Bus Barn

At the so-called Bus Barn just northeast of Purdy Elementary School, I strolled into the nerve center for Peninsula School District’s fleet of yellow school buses. Here a small staff services and deploys 100 buses on 65 routes encompassing two large peninsulas and 114 square miles.

Wall maps with pushpins and yarn have been replaced by computers and GPS tracking, but dispatchers and drivers still face the logistical challenge of shuttling nearly 9,000 students across one of the geographically largest school districts in the state — much of it surrounded by water.

“Our ability to transport students efficiently is sometimes non-existent given the large land mass we have to cover,” said Dawnett Wright, director of transportation for the school district. “But our school buses have a better safety record than any mass transit system in the word. That’s important to us.”

After serving in the Air Force during the first Gulf War, she has logged 32 years of working in school bus transport. It’s easy to sense her passion for students’ safety and her loyalty to the drivers. When recalling the sudden heart attack that took the life of an elderly driver 12 years ago in a parking lot in Pasco, she pauses to wipe away some stubborn tears.

“Bus drivers are truly the most kind-hearted people,” she said.

Who hires on for this duty?

The school district currently employs 84 drivers, 55% women, 45% men. About 65 of them work regular hours under a labor contract. Others are substitutes who are on call to cover for absences. Twenty of the drivers have been running the routes for more than 10 years.

Contract drivers earn $29-38 per hour plus valuable benefits such as health insurance. Six weeks of initial training is now paid time – an incentive to attract new drivers. Background checks, drug testing and both classroom and driving tests are required. New drivers can successfully complete training after previously driving nothing more demanding than the family minivan.

For some, the work fits nicely with the schedule of raising kids; for others, it’s a part-time gig for their retirement years. Each driver periodically bids for preferred assignments that involve various school routes, plus special events and away games for various sports. Game duties with sports teams are often coveted assignments among the drivers.

Many reasons for driving a bus

Some say they started the work after urgings from friends or relatives or after spotting the “Drivers Wanted” banners posted by the school district. “Ninety-four percent of districts are facing driver shortages. We have contracted drivers on every route, but we continue to recruit,” Dawnett said. The next training class starts Oct. 28.

As back-to-school season arrived, I met with three local school bus drivers to learn more about why they sign up for duty. Each offered a different story, but their primary motivation had nothing to do with buses, routes, or schedules. The common ingredient was their feelings about kids. See for yourself …

Life after Starbucks

Mandie Johnson, a 40-year-old mom to two kids, ages 11 and 7, was working at Starbucks while working a side gig as a silversmith. Her husband, a carpenter, is the family’s primary breadwinner. Her father, who spent 40 years working ground services with Delta Airlines, prompted her to trade in her green apron for a driver’s seat on the bus.

Bus driver Mandy Johnson took advice from her father and became a school bus drivers after working the counter at Starbucks.

“The idea of driving a 40-foot bus scared me at first, but my dad is a persuasive man, even a little bossy,” she said with a smile. “Finally, I said fine, and went to the training class.”

After nine years as a bus driver, she now hands out small resin animal figurines to young kids who need a bit of encouragement in their day.  “The 4- and 5-year-olds are my favorite,” she said. She claims high schoolers are the easiest passengers, and middle schoolers “can go either way.”

Her approach to both students and parents is to show respect and set expectations for the same in return.

“When I’m at a stop, we all have to be on the same page. I’m looking in my mirrors, my crossing arm is out. That is the moment of truth,” she said in a kind but firm tone typical of a mother’s rule-making.

As a bonus, her work schedule fully aligns with that of her own kids. In fact, her two youngsters ride on her bus route for the duration, and they all drive home together once the bus is parked back at the Barn.

“It’s so ideal that we can ride together,” she said. “For now, I am grateful for this work. I’m locked in,” she said.

Living life to its fullest

Balmore Escobar, 47, left El Salvador with his parents when he was 6 years old. After schooling, he spent 21 years in the military, including 11 years of active duty in the Army. He served three deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with National Guard duties in Kentucky and Hawaii.

To re-enter civilian life, he enrolled in Seattle’s Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in 2011-12 and taught himself to cook. For 10 years, he was a chef at Massimo Grill, an Italian restaurant in Purdy. He quit the restaurant grind for a couple years to work in the kitchen at the Gig Harbor Boys and Girls Club. The restaurant taught him patience; the club taught him about kids.

Bus driver Balmore Escobar traded in his local chef’s job and has been enjoying his kids on the bus for a year.

After a divorce in 2016, he became a single parent with custody of his own kids, all now adults. When he saw the school district’s banner seeking bus drivers, he decided to apply. After a year of driving the bus, he apparently has found his next calling.

“My experience around kids helped me. The military taught me the importance of discipline and the brotherhood of soldiers. Cooking taught me about patience and positive attitude,” said Balmore.

He also remembers riding the bus as a high school student in complete silence. So, as driver he makes a point to engage with the kids. He also makes a point to explain a clear set of rules, evidence that his Army training remains intact.

“Hands stay to yourself, stay in your seat, don’t eat, raise your hand if you have questions, and most of all, respect each other always,” he said. “Oh, and always say please and thank you.”

His connection with kids is working. At one point, the parents of an 8-year-old said their son wanted Balmore to attend his birthday party. Balmore politely declined for policy reasons, but he will never forget that gesture, or that kid.

On another day, he was forced to pull over to calm a bus full of panicked elementary school students. A “massive” spider had found its way onto the bus. Balmore again relied on his military training to dispatch the spider, earning commendations for bravery from the kids.

“I just treat them like they are my kids,” he said. “I try to have a positive attitude. I like to live my life to the fullest. I’m here to be someone.”

Life after a brief retirement

Nearly a decade ago, Longbranch resident Glen Parker, 68, retired after 35 years as a civil engineer and land surveyor. He felt boredom creeping into his life. His brother, who heads up a transportation operation in Bellevue, suggested a solution: Go drive a bus.

Glen had helped to raise four boys. He was no stranger to kids, but that nest was now empty. He signed on as a driver and has been at it for eight years. His only requirement is that he pull duty for routes in and around Gig Harbor, since he already has a long daily drive to and from his home in Longbranch.

“This job is all about kids. If you don’t like kids, don’t do it,” said Glen.

Like the other bus drivers, Glen’s strategy involves engagement and a positive attitude. He makes a point to monitor the noise behind him during his drives.

“Good noise is OK. I’ve learned how to listen for good noise or bad,” he said.

Bus driver Glen Parker avoided any chance of boredom during his retirement, and has been driving for eight years now.

For younger students, he knows how to keep them engaged. He creates clever daily themes to encourage them to speak up. For Miserable Monday, what’s your worst breakfast cereal? For Tuesday Trivia day … For Wacky Wednesday … You get the idea. He’s a master of Carpool 101: Keep them occupied at all costs.

Asked about contentious issues with parents, the drivers explain that any serious issues get the support of the district’s administrators outside of the bus. But, with open communication and plenty of on-board cameras, issues are usually quickly resolved.

What about traffic and all those other drivers on our roads? Many school bus drivers watch for opportunities to pull over because they know no one enjoys being stalled behind a big yellow barricade.

“Everyone hates buses, but as a driver, I worry mostly about what’s in front of me. Time is not the issue; safety is number one,” said Glen.

And for the parents … If you’re still feeling a sense of fear and loss when your kid climbs onto the bus for the first time, know that you’re not alone. Hopefully the driver will give you reassuring nod or wink because that feeling never really goes away.

Extra credit for understanding school buses…

• Peninsula School District operates four different sizes of school buses: maximum passenger capacities are 18, 35, 71, and 78 students.
• The district reduced the number of individual bus routes after the COVID-19 closures, so seating may be tighter than in the past. But no bus is permitted to be over capacity.
• The district operates eight propane-powered buses, with one more coming soon. Five more will be added this year based on partial funding from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Rebate program.
• Electric-powered buses will be considered in the future, but first the district will need to address charging infrastructure, range issues and costs.
• Need more information on routes, bus driving jobs, or an app to track your school bus? Click here.
• Flashing lights: Need to brush up on driving rules involving school buses? Here’s the state law: RCW 46.61.370.