As school bus drivers, we are all used to having vacation weeks and summers off, but 2020 brought an entirely different, and unexpected, extended type of break from routine for all of us.
For most, the last time they drove their school bus was mid-March and for many of the same, they don’t expect to get back behind the wheel of their bus until late-August or September (hopefully). During this extended period of time away from the drivers seat, what can you do to help keep your bus driver brain from ”checking-out?”
1. Review processes and procedures
Give the railroad crossing simulator a try. Test your skills on safe railroad crossing procedures. This simulator is brought to us by Operation Life Saver. In this simulator it gives you multiple different scenarios to try out and test your skills to be sure you are following all the right steps each time you approach a railroad crossing in your bus.
Review emergency evacuation plans, walk through it in your head. If you needed to evacuate your bus, where would you start? Are you going out the front or back? Take this time to think over all of these things.
2. Do a Pre-Trip Inspection
Your bus has been sitting now for close to two months already! If you are cleared to do so by your district/supervisor, ask if you can have the keys to your bus out in the lot and go do a pre-trip inspection on it. It will be good for the bus to run for a little bit and it will also allow you to be sure your bus is still in safe running order. Do your inspection like you would at the beginning of every school day. Buses aren't used to sitting idle for so long. Be sure to let your mechanics/technicians know if you find any issues so they can address them. It may help save some headaches come the return to school or State Police Inspections. Be sure to practice social distancing and wash your hands too!
3. Review your route
Does your district give you a "preview" of your next year's bus route? If so, great! If not, ask if they can. It can help both you and the district be prepared for the upcoming school year. Review your assigned route and stops, pick up and drop off times, stop orders and student counts. Are there students who should be assigned to different bus stops than it shows on your paperwork? Maybe even take a drive out along your route if you have new stops listed to be sure you know where they are located and you aren't searching for them on the first day of school! Work with your department to make sure your route is set up safely and efficiently to start next school year. I'm sure there will still be changes over the summer, but it's a good starting point!
4. Talk to friends about being in School Transportation
More likely than not, there will still be a need for good school bus drivers, van drivers and monitors as we enter into the next school year. Maybe someone you never thought of may have interest in working in school transportation? The daily routine may look different then we are all used to, but the essential job is still the same. Up before dawn, pre-trips by flashlight all bundled up and all the other stuff we look forward to in our day, right? With so many people unemployed right now, this may be an opportunity for districts to fill opening that come up. Yes it's a job, but talk about the things that make you keep wanting to come back each year (besides a paycheck.) Talking about it keeps it fresh in your brain!
5. Let your students know you miss them
Let's be honest, if you say you don't, you are either lying or shouldn't be in school transportation. Maybe take the time and type up a short note to you students and email it to the principal of buildings you transport to or send it to your Transportation Office to forward out. I'm sure they would be glad to add it into to any communications that they send out to students and families. If you have other contact already established with parents directly, send it that way. Let them know you miss seeing them. Let them know you care about them and hope they are doing well. Encourage them to work hard on their school work from home, to do their best and just let them know you are thinking of them. Wish those seniors the best in their journey's after high school. Who knows when you will see them next. Some days your kids may drive you crazy, but in the end, you care about them. Let them know that.
Stay safe and be well friends. Keep your chins up! This too shall pass. Our days may not return to the "normal" we came to know for some time, but in the end, hopefully you can say you did your part. Whatever it was.
If there are other suggestions you have, become a Site Member and comment below!
-Matt
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