leaders, even if they don’t stay forever at Cobb County, because poor work reflects badly on the whole industry. “You can’t shortcut safety, especially in pupil transportation,” he cautions. One such example is the blessing-and-curse


nature of new technology. Devices and soft- ware for data collection abound, and the rapid development of it all “has created more pres- sure and stress on transportation operations,”


Grisham explained. Now drivers have to be versed not only in expert driving and student management, but also onboard technologies. On the other hand, technology makes the department more efficient, he said. Data provides clear areas for departmental improvement, as well as readily accessible and irrefutable proof in cases of parental concern. “Tere’s so many moving pieces,” Grisham


noted. Tese include everything from the total solar eclipse in August, to the flooding, winds and power outages brought by Hurricane Irma, to making sure all students are accounted for after sports games. “We do all we can in a preventative measure, and we always look for ways to make it better,” he said. September saw Cobb County’s smoothest school start in 10 years, said Grisham proudly. But like any great leader, he knows there’s still work to do. “Tere needs to be a constant awareness and thinking to do the best you can,” he explained. He considers the success that follows “a departmental thing.” 


Listen to archived STN Webinars presented by Rick Grisham! Stop arm cameras: stnonline.com/go/ac Push-to-talk systems: stnonline.com/go/ad


“Average is the enemy of great… It takes work and effort, but you lay down a good framework for leadership. Put in the hard work at the beginning and it will all pay off, becoming easier to maintain and manage down the road.” —Rick Grisham


44 School Transportation News • NOVEMBER 2017


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