December 2020 | Vol. 6 Iss. 12
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SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS: ‘NOTHING SHORT OF HEROES’ By Darrell Kirby | dkirby@mycityjournals.com
T
hey crisscross West Valley City every school day—the yellow buses that transport thousands of students to Granite School District schools and other private and charter learning institutions. Except for rare instances, the drivers of those buses get kids to and from school safely and without accident. And this year, they have also been tasked with ensuring their young passengers are kept safe from COVID-19 while in their vehicles. The work of school bus drivers was highlighted during an event at Granger High School recently as part of School Bus Safety Week. “They have difficult jobs and the pandemic has made it even more challenging, but they have conscientiously adapted and regularly update procedures to keep students safe,” said state Rep. Elizabeth Weight (D-West Valley City), who sponsored a resolution during the 2020 legislative session to call attention to the professionalism of school bus drivers throughout Utah. Specifically, the resolution “recognizes school bus driv- Granite School District transportation director Dave Gatti praises the work of school bus drivers. (Courtesy Granite School District) ers for their exemplary work” that includes: • Driving a school bus while navigating road and weather • Helping students with medical needs and disabilities; ported throughout the year to various sporting and extracurhazards; and ricular activities both in and out of the district. Transportation • Inspecting school buses to ensure the safety of the stu• Performing all of their duties and responsibilities while director Dave Gatti says it takes a Herculean effort carried dents who ride the bus; avoiding distractions. out by a staff of 180 full-time and substitute drivers, plus dis• Identifying signs of sexual harassment, bullying, and In the Granite School District, about 130 buses take some patchers, mechanics, and other support staff. other abuse; Added to the job this year has been the constant clean• Communicating with the parents of students who ride 8,200 students to and from 86 elementary, junior high, and high schools each day. Hundreds of students are also trans- ing and sanitizing of each bus Continued page 15 the bus;
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