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Student Transporters Battle Stress With Teamwork, Commitment and Communication


By Michelle Fisher Former Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca


once said, “In times of great stress or ad- versity, it is always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.” Mike Martin of the National Association for Pupil Transpor- tation (NAPT) sees this mind set in school transportation professionals navigating a tough fiscal road. According to a recent report by the Center on Education Policy, he notes, about 84 percent of surveyed school districts anticipate even more funding cuts in 2011-2012. Mark Hinson, chief human resources


officer at Adams 12 Five Star Schools in Tornton, Colo., contends that the reces- sion adds to and complicates stressors that are inherent to student transpor- tation, such as weather, gridlock, bus breakdowns and student behavior. During cutbacks and layoffs, he continues, it is up to management to maintain a positive and supportive culture. “Managers and supervisors need to


be extra diligent when working with em- ployees and remain sensitive, providing resources and support,” Hinson said. “We need to take time and engage with them on how they are feeling about their work, their position, etc. We can only address these issues if they are transparent.” Open communication is essential for


stress management, he continues, be- cause it builds camaraderie and reduces feelings of isolation. “As employers, we don’t want negativity


to permeate the workplace. We still have students who need effective transporta- tion and who need a safe environment. In many cases, the drivers are the first and last person a student sees every day,” said Hinson. Adds Martin: “Good economy or bad,


I believe the vast majority of school bus drivers have an innate,


awe-inspiring


ability to rationalize the rewards of their effort. Te pressure they face every day is as intense as it is for anyone in the school system, even now, and I think they handle it better than most.”


BUILDING AWARENESS AND TRUST Dr. Linda Bluth, president of NAPT,


agrees that drivers have a tough, often thankless job. Part of her job at the Mary- land State Department of Education is handling parent complaints. “In the education system, we don’t ask


anyone to educate 100 children with their backs to them. Moving a vehicle safely with all these children is a very cumbersome task,” says Bluth. “Parents need to be better informed about the school bus. I think they have expectations that are unrealistic.” Since the students’ day begins and


ends on the school bus, drivers need the authority to discipline problem children. Bluth says she is proud of the new bullying training program that NAPT developed with the U.S. Department of Education, which is free for school districts. Two school bus drivers from the Adams


12 district cite student misconduct and in- creasing traffic as major sources of stress.


18 School Transportation News Magazine August 2011


agement and dealing with the students’ parents,” says


“It’s tough dealing with student man- longtime driver Patricia


Lockaby. “Due to budget problems, I find that there are more students on each route, and I have greater distances to drive.” Shona Webb says her job is more in-


volved than it was 12 years ago. “Te driver has more responsibilities: checking students’ IDs, [behavior] management, dealing with today’s traffic—which seems like it has doubled—and still getting the students to school safe and on time.” Transportation director David Ander-


son notes that everyone in the Adams 12 district feels the pinch of Colorado’s ongoing budget cuts, which led to 185 district-wide layoffs in 2009-2010 and an- other 188 in 2010-2011. He says that many people now have to do two jobs, includ- ing himself: He is fleet manager and the supervisor of 200 employees. “I try to take a deep breath and keep


my emotions in check. We can accom- plish much more working together as a team than by fighting among ourselves,” Anderson says. “Dealing with layoffs and calling people in about losing their job is


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