✰Clifford “Cliff” Harrell Transportation Maintenance Supervisor, Beaverton School District, Oregon Cliff Harrell’s career in pupil
transportation began after his military service, when he joined Beaverton School District’s transportation shop as a service technician performing oil changes and preventive maintenance. He advanced to repair technician, shop foreman and his current position of transportation mainte- nance supervisor. Harrell oversees all facets of
the district’s maintenance opera- tion, including 305 school buses, approximately 150 white fleet vehicles and 15 technicians. His re-
sponsibilities have also increased as Beaverton has added electric school buses and charging infrastructure. Harrell manages 100 chargers, ensuring the district’s electric buses are charging properly and troubleshooting equipment when problems arise. He helps diagnose issues with the district’s diverse EV fleet and works with vendors on parts and repairs. Once new buses arrive, Harrell determines maintenance
intervals, necessary tools and equipment, training require- ments and safety procedures. He also oversees charger load management, with the goal of completing 90 percent of charging during off-peak hours to reduce electricity costs. “Be flexible with EV as it is still new technology. An issue you find may lead to better design later down the
✰Ernest “Ernie” Epley
Director of Transportation, Fremont Unified School District, California What Ernie Epley expected to be
a temporary job became a nearly two-decade career in pupil trans- portation. Epley spotted a sign in 2008 that
advertised paid training for school bus drivers. Coming from commer- cial construction, he planned to drive only until construction work picked up. Instead, he progressed from school bus driver to California Highway Patrol school bus coordi- nator and transportation manager, then director of transportation for Fremont Unified School District in California.
Epley oversees the safe transportation of approximately
2,000 students and a maintenance operation responsi- ble for more than 400 vehicles. He describes the work as “organized chaos,” encompassing budgets, vehicle pro- curement and communication with staff, district leadership, families and school sites. One of Epley’s major projects has been Fremont Uni-
fied’s vehicle-to-grid program. As the district transitioned to electric school buses, he saw an opportunity to use their batteries beyond transportation. Charge-management software allows buses to charge during less-expensive, off-peak hours while ensuring they are ready for morning routes. When conditions allow, stored energy can also be exported to the electrical grid. “We’re taking something that traditionally had one pur-
pose, transporting students, and giving it a second purpose Continued on page 44➥
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road,” Harrell advised. “Share information and network. Holding all the knowledge and not sharing it does good for no one.” That emphasis on sharing knowledge extends to the
next generation. Harrell helped establish an internship program that brings students into the district’s shop to work alongside experienced technicians rather than at- tending their regular career and technical education auto technology class. Over the past three-and-a-half years, 13 students have participated. One became a full-time employee for a year before leaving to become a firefighter. The other interns have had opportunities to work during the summer. “I am always trying to build up the next generation to
ultimately take over my job,” Harrell said. The district also reaches younger students through mid- dle school CTE classes and offers shop visits to middle and high school students. Looking ahead, Harrell said he wants to help develop
standardized maintenance and repair practices for elec- tric school buses while preparing younger technicians to fill positions left by retiring employees. “My favorite part of my job is coaching and developing
the technicians under my supervision,” Harrell said. “Train- ing should never be a hurdle or something that stops.” Harrell sees himself remaining at Beaverton School Dis-
trict, continuing to build on the operation’s successes and preparing its maintenance workforce for what comes next.
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