Each school day approximately 4,000 students travel on Conestoga Valley School District (CVSD) buses. Coming from as far west as Brownstown and Akron and as far east as Ronks, the students are driven to one of five schools and returned to their bus stops at the end of each day. A staff of more than 70, including about 40 drivers of full-sized buses moves them safely from place to place on a regular basis.
"We are like a big family," said Tara Eitner, manager with Brightbill Transporation, which is contracted to provide bus services for students in CVSD. "We all pull together when we need to. If someone is running behind, other drivers will pick up their kids for them."
Julie Nieves, who has been driving CVSD students through Brightbill since 2020, agreed. She recalled a time when she was involved in an accident while driving her car to work, and the other bus drivers stopped to check on her. "We go out to breakfast sometimes. I love it," she said.
According to Eitner, the organization is short a few drivers at the moment. She noted that some drivers were not comfortable returning after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted and in-person school resumed. Now, she is looking for a few dependable drivers.
Eitner noted that drivers are well trained before they get on the road. Before becoming a driver, individuals must take 14 hours of classroom instruction and then spend at least six hours behind the wheel during paid training. Trained drivers are required to pass a test given by Pennsylvania state trainer Dave Lutz at Cocalico High School. Most drivers work weekdays when school is in session from about 6:35 to 9:10 a.m. and from 2:10 to 4:30 p.m. In the winter, there are also opportunities for drivers to take student-athletes to games when the team members need to leave at about 1:30 p.m.
Nieves said the job is a good fit for her for many reasons. "I am on my kids' schedules," she said, noting she has children in elementary and high school. "I don't have to worry if there's a snow day or if there's early dismissal," she explained. "I don't have to scramble around to find last-minute child care." She noted that having summers off with unemployment pay is a plus.
Prior to joining Brightbill, Nieves was a hairdresser. When COVID-19 restrictions reduced traffic to the salon, she decided to answer an ad for school bus drivers. She was surprised when she was asked to drive the bus at her interview, but she said she found the automatic vehicle with plenty of mirrors and windows easy to drive. "I can't parallel park my car, but I can parallel park my bus," said Nieves with a laugh. She has also found students to be mostly well behaved. "(There are) fidgeters, but it's just them getting comfortable and getting used to you," she said. A protocol is in place for students who misbehave on the bus. "As long as you are consistent with them, you will be fine."
Readers who would like to learn more about driving buses may visit http://www.conestogavalley.org and click on "District" and "Job Opportunities" or call 717-656-2601.
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