Pennsylvania school bus contractor wins ‘Bus Stops Here’ award

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Veteran school bus contractor Harold Girardat received the Pennsylvania School Bus Association (PSBA)’s “Bus Stops Here” award at the association’s convention here last month.

Girardat is the owner of Cochranton, Pennsylvania-based Girardat LP, which has been transporting students since 1949.

Girardat was joined by his family and staff at the June 28-30 PSBA convention. Association officials said that the Bus Stops Here award is given to a person who has made significant contributions to PSBA and has worked to fulfill the safety, education and advocacy missions of the association.

Girardat has been a member of PSBA since 1981. He was elected to the board of directors in 1989, and he has served in multiple board positions, including a term as president from 2004 to 2006. When an officer position needed to be filled in 2014, Girardat answered the call and rejoined the PSBA executive committee as second vice president.

“The executive committee was extremely pleased to present Harold with this award,” PSBA President Blake Krapf said. “He continues to be supportive of the association and a mentor to many school bus contractors. The honor is well deserved.”

PSBA also hosted the 39th annual Pennsylvania School Bus Drivers Safety Competition, which was held at Mount Nittany Middle School in State College on June 26 and 27. A total of 95 drivers braved torrential rain and windy conditions to compete.

The event included a written examination and a skills competition. The drivers were tested in a number of skill areas, including physical and verbal bus inspection, height judgment, a simulated bus stop, railroad crossings and curb line parking.

The following drivers emerged as the top two winners in the conventional and transit categories:

Conventional
• 1st — Ruth DelVecchio, Krapf Bus
• 2nd — Larry Hannon Sr., Centennial School District

Transit
• 1st — Michael Webster, Brightbill Transportation
• 2nd — John Welsh, Lower Merion School District

Those four drivers qualified to compete in the School Bus Driver International Safety Competition in Minneapolis.