Calvin Sakamoto, Tech 1 Lead | Hawaii Department of Education school buses who was also a mechanic. After his C learned to repair cars on their G
own. From everything to the clutch, starter or body work, the Prusko fami-
ly would take the job on themselves. “One of my favorite memories is of my father and I
working on a manual transmission when I was about 12 years old. We had pulled the transmission down because it had a bad input shaft bearing and taken it completely apart. Once the bearing was removed, my dad started to put it back together and I told him that he wasn’t doing it correctly,” Prusko recalled. “He yelled, ‘What do you know? You are only 12’ and then told me to go inside. Well, after about an hour of struggling and swearing, he came in and asked me to come back outside and help him. Together, we assembled it correctly, and from that point on, I knew I loved doing this work.” Prusko attended Wyoming Tech in 1987 followed by a
short stint at BMW. In 1989 he applied to Township High School District 211 in Illinois as an apprentice mechanic. Now, 32 years later, he is foreman of the garage.
40 School Transportation News • AUGUST 2021
college graduation, Sakamoto said he was having a hard time finding
work in the electrical field due to a medical condition. Instead, he ended up working for Laupahoehoe Com- munity Public Charter School Transportation on the Big Island of Hawaii, and then transitioned to working for Roberts Hawaii School Bus Division, where he has been working for the past 25 years. He services vehicles at three company locations. Sakamoto said that in his 37 years of experience, he has
enjoyed doing all types of repairs, but his specialty is electri- cal. He holds a STATE (Hawaii) License and an ASE license. Margo Bunnell, general manager at Roberts Hawaii School Bus Division, said Sakamoto has a “innovative style,” evidenced by his creation of a workshop on an empty lot. She added that he prioritizes preventative maintenance, and ensurs that no bus driver is without a vehicle.
alvin Sakamoto got his start in the mechanic industry while working on cars with his father,
“He wants the team to succeed,” continued Bunnell.
“Calvin, though some might say is an old-school type of mechanic, has ensured that the drivers, dispatchers and managers can reach him through his cell phone or pager.” Sakamoto and his team have been working together since 1996 to keep the 42 general-education and 29 spe- cial education bus routes running. Sakamoto was also recognized for his monetary donations to charity and involvement with the local community. Bunnell said she
believes Sakamoto is a great representation for the Big Island of Hawaii. “Com- munication and being pro-active [are] qualities that have made Calvin a leader in our maintenance team here,” she concluded.
Scott Prusko, Shop Foreman | Township High School District 211, Illinois
rowing up in a work- ing-class family of eight, Scott Prusko said he and his siblings
“I am part of making sure the nearly 9,000 students we transport daily have the safest possible ride to and from school,” Pursko said, adding that the team maintains a fleet of 259 vehicles that contain the latest technology in tracking software and video cameras. The district has also purchased propane vehicles. “I love that my job is rarely the same from one day to the next,” he added. “Whether we are dealing with a polar vortex, global pandemic, or just the many minor issues that come with a fleet that travels around 17,000 miles each day, these are the things that keep this job interest- ing, and yes, sometimes stressful.” Diana Mikelski, director of transportation for the
district, said Prukso has made her transition into the position easier. He holds ASE, Bluebird and IC Bus cer- tifications, while also serving as a football coach and on the Fire Board for the Township. He also volunteers at church functions. “His skills, expertise and leadership have helped shape new initiatives in many areas including training, oils and fluids, and preventative maintenance,” Mikelski said. “Our breakdowns and engine repairs have decreased dramatically with his changes.”
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