Fayetteville Public Schools swapped out “Pepto Bismal pink” for a new, modern transportation center (right) that includes not only the latest technological innovations but also essential functions for employees that all departments should have.
“We put tables and chairs out,” he continued. “And with the COVID-19 virus, we had to space tables apart to allow for social distancing. We have the space for that now.” Crockett, who said he can’t wait to get to the design phase of the new facility at Salem-Keizer, said COVID-19 spoke and he listened. More space is now on his wish list. “The thing that COVID-19 dictated to us is everyone needs more space and that’s impossible to do in our current facility,” Crockett said. “The new one couldn’t be this small. We have greatly outgrown our current facility, so adding the second facility will allow us space for now and room to grow. We just hired an architect, so we are not real deep into those conversations yet.”
What’s in a Name? Transportation experts agree that a structure’s name is just as important as the allocation of the space in- side. Some in the industry have asked whether the title bus driver adequately describes one who drives what amounts to a motorized computer on wheels, has the lives of as many as 80 students (during a normal year) in their care at any given time and must be licensed by the state to perform their job. In that same vein, transpor- tation professionals say traditional terminology such as bus barn, bus yard and bus garage are antiquated and do a disservice to those who walk their halls. “A lot of times transportation departments are consid-
ered part of the school,” said Hahn, who has participated in planning committees and scouted properties for school districts. “Transportation employees assist with the educational process.” Hahn said he gives superintendents he consults wih their choice of naming the finished product, if they stay within certain christening parameters. “They can call it a transportation center, transportation services building or even school district transportation center, but they are not calling it a barn, a garage or a yard,” Hahn said adamantly. “Transportation employees are professionals. Animals live in barns, so it is not a bus barn. These are professional human beings. It is about image and if you
30 School Transportation News • FEBRUARY 2021
want these employees to be considered professionals, give them a professional environment to work in.” Crockett wholeheartedly agreed with Hahn’s assessment.
Crockett said the second Salem-Keizer facility will be called the Gaffin Transportation Center, and the current facility will carry the name, Hawthorne Transportation Center. McClure, whose new facility is named the Fayetteville Schools Child Nutrition and Transportation Center, agreed that the term bus barn diminishes the impor- tance of the job transportation people perform. “Bus barn does not lend itself to describing us as the
professionals we are,” McClure said. “Our drivers are professional drivers and the cargo that we carry is more precious than the cargo anyone else carries. When we hear people call it a barn, we chuckle. I heard it said once that bus drivers are ‘Professional Student Relocation Specialists.’ Half the time is spent driving the bus and the other half is dealing with kids.”
Creating Space for Technology Crockett’s wish list does not end with increased space and a sophisticated structure name. He said he also desires innovations for his technicians and trainers. “We are hopeful the new facility will increase the number of bays we have available and provide support facilities for our training, routing and dispatch teams to better do their work,” Crockett said. “In addition, it should be a welcoming environment for our drivers.” He added that the ideal new site will have the ability to host a variety of training offerings. “It will be outfitted with screens to connect to, with or without wires, intercom throughout and speakers for presentations,” Crockett said. “The dispatch center also serves as the back-up emer- gency operation center, so we will need technology to support those efforts. Hopefully, space enough for a driver trainer course to do the initial parking lot training.” McClure’s new digs feature additional parking spots on
a concrete surface that will handle the heavy load of bus- es better than asphalt. He estimated that about half of the $6 million project was spent installing the concrete the
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