good after-school activity. Te next thing everyone knew, all of the bus drivers began volunteering their free time following the after- noon routes were completed to transport middle- and high school students to local gymnasiums for some good, non-competitive fun. Sometimes the drivers even play. “Te students got into it and started asking who they’d play
next. Te parents even come,” said Schachtele, a six-year veter- an driver at Greenville. “It did exactly what we wanted it to do. Tey didn’t just go home and watch TV or do whatever they do. Tis might get them to tryout for volleyball. If this can get kids involved in something that maybe was never available to them before, then we’ve done our jobs.” Roughly eight to 14 kids per bus elect to remain onboard after
the last elementary student has unloaded, and the drivers return the buses to the district garage, where a free meal awaits. Ten, it’s off to a local elementary school gymnasium for some fun. Schachtele added that she’s never heard anyone complain
about the lack of overtime. Te drivers even contribute to a petty cash fund to pay for the food and drinks. Meanwhile, Knight has succeeded in getting the district to donate to the food fund as well as volleyballs, nets and use of the school gym. In early April, he added that the drivers were looking forward to getting the kids outside for games of softball. And the drivers also volunteer their time to take students to and from after-school dances.
School bus drivers are reaching out to a group of its middle school and high school students who don’t have many options once the school day is completed.
“If you worked in our school district and went out and watched
these kids play, you’d say we hit the target with the kids we want- ed to get. Tey’re the kids who need it the most,” Knight said. “Especially around here, districts all over are laying off drivers or cutting transportation or threatening to cut transportation. Still, we’ve been able to hold our own and still provide this. Te bud- get is a real nightmare, but we do so much planning here and we’re a pretty proactive group. We have a very supportive school board, so we’re luckier than most.” ■
Call us now at 1-800-385-8616
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www.ivedasolutions.com/schoolbus www.stnonline.com 27
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