USD 457: Bus Drivers Place At State Competition
(Courtesy of USD 457)
SALINA, Kan. — The Garden City Public Schools Transportation Department had four school bus drivers place in the Kansas State Pupil Transportation Association’s School Bus Rodeo Safety Competition held in Salina, Kansas. Kim Nichols took first place and Sondra Williams took third place in Rookie Transit division. Jerry Guerrero took second place and Melanie Turner took third place in the Experienced Transit division. The competition took place during the Association’s School Transportation Safety Symposium that was held Tuesday, June 4th through Thursday, June 6th.
The school bus safety competition is designed to recognize excellence in school bus drivers while demonstrating skills needed in their demanding jobs of safely transporting students. The competition consists of a written exam and a series of skills tests.
The written examination tests the school bus drivers’ knowledge in all areas of school bus operations, laws, rules and regulations. This portion of the competition tested the drivers’ knowledge as well as their ability to comprehend and respond to written instructions.
The driving skills portion of the competition requires the drivers to demonstrate exemplary skills in such areas as law/regulation knowledge, school bus inspections, and bus driving skill maneuvers. The drivers were challenged to maneuver a school bus around obstacles and demonstrate that they know all the ins and outs of operating a school bus.
