needing computers, increased space and maintenance software, he said his department should eliminate work hazards in the garage as well as invest in safe lifting equipment and proper training.
Small School, Big Family Darrel Hartman, the bus garage supervisor for Kaleva
Norman Dickson Schools in Michigan, said he is satis- fied with his pay and working conditions. He cited an hourly wage of around $20 an hour, $6 below the aver- age response. He added that the entire transportation department and district, located in the northwest portion of the state, operates as a family. Hartman’s father was also a district mechanic, so he
views the job as a family affair. He oversees the main- tenance of the district’s 10 school buses. While he appreciates the benefits and incentives including health insurance, a flexible schedule and retirement, he shared that his school district has also offered to send him to multiple professional development opportunities. Hartman said he was set to attend the Thomas
Built Institute last year, but the annual factory train- ing event was canceled amid the COVID-19 outbreak. “There have been other training courses in the area that I have been allowed to go to,” he added, citing a
wheel-bearing and installation course taught by truck wheel-end product manufacturer Stemco. In addition to training, prior to COVID-19 the district
provided breakfast to transportation department em- ployees. Now, during the novel coronavirus pandemic, it ensures that all staff and employees have what they need to succeed and feel safe, including adequate amounts of personal protective equipment. Hartman said he would like to see improvements made
to vehicle lifts in the bus garage, as they could improve the efficiency and safety of the garage environment, rather than working on a flat concrete floor. But he added that he realizes upgrades take time. For example, a higher ceiling is necessary for the type of lift he would like. And since voters recently passed a bond to build a new storage facility for the school buses, he doesn’t see funding being available for a new maintenance center anytime soon. Yet that doesn’t stop his appreciation for both his school district and transportation department. “The one slogan that our school has is ‘Small School, Big Family.’ The school tries to treat everyone like they are family,” Hartman said. “We all work together to make sure every- one is taken care of. With the size of our school district, we all get to know each other really well and are able to talk personally with each other like good friends.” ●
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