F
or the transportation maintenance team at Escam- bia County School District, student safety extends far beyond the garage. That commitment was put to the test when a bomb threat prompted the
evacuation of a middle school. More than 1,000 students were displaced and waiting outside in the Florida heat as school officials worked through emergency procedures. Although their daily responsibilities focus on maintaining vehicles, members of the transportation maintenance team immediately stepped in to assist students and staff. The response reflected the same dedication the team brings to its daily work maintaining one of Florida’s larg- est school transportation fleets. The department’s 32 team members bring a com- bined 375 years of experience in pupil transportation and are responsible for maintaining 430 school buses and 450 white fleet vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, vans, trucks, tractors, trailers and heavy equipment. This requires strong communication and teamwork. Work is assigned based on technician skill sets and workload, while specialized tasks, such as air-conditioning repairs, are handled by certified technicians. Established proce- dures help ensure maintenance is completed consistently across the operation. “With teamwork, everyone knows what the other team members are doing and tasks are completed uniformly,” said Garage Manager Derrick Pires. “There is no guessing
Escambia County School District, Florida Ready When Needed
with how, what, where or when, with procedures in place.” Like many transportation departments nationwide, Escambia County faces challenges recruiting and retaining qualified technicians. To address those challenges, experienced employees work closely with newer technicians, providing hands-on training and mentorship to help strengthen the workforce. Technology also plays a key role in the depart-
ment’s success. Fleet maintenance software tracks repairs, inventory, productivity and inspection schedules, while GPS tracking helps staff quickly locate school buses and support vehicles. Together, these tools improve efficien- cy and allow administrative staff to spend more time supporting technicians and shop operations. The district has also invested in facility improvements. Within the last five years, the transportation department replaced four in-ground lifts used by bus inspectors. The upgraded equipment allows inspectors to complete between 18 and 20 inspections daily while improving efficiency and workplace safety. For those entering the industry, the team’s advice is
simple. “Take the initiative to learn everything you can, get
involved in all phases of maintenance and most impor- tantly, listen to your supervisors and the experienced technicians; they know what they’re talking about,” Pires explained. Whether responding to an emergency or maintain- ing a large school transportation fleet, the Escambia County School District maintenance team remains focused on providing safe, reliable transportation for students every day. “We perform the duties within the garage as if we
were transporting our own families, with love and at- tention to details,” Pires said.
F
ort Bend ISD fleet maintenance team is ensuring students have safe and reliable transportation every day. The team supports a complex trans- portation operation that serves the sixth-largest
38 School Transportation News • AUGUST 2026
Fort Bend Independent School District, Texas Supporting a Growing Operation
student population in the state. While maintaining daily operations across multiple facilities, the department is also preparing the opening of a third maintenance facility to accommodate future growth. The maintenance team consists of 11 professionals, including six master mechan- ics, three vehicle service technicians, an A/V technician, and a parts manager. Together, they bring nearly 200 years of combined experience in pupil transportation. At the Lake Olympia Terminal, the team maintains
201 school buses (136 general education buses and 65 special education buses, as well as 16 district white fleet vehicles.
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