Some members of the transportation team at Temple Independent School District (ISD) were recently recognized for their efforts in helping transport members of their community during a winter ice storm back in February.

As roads were covered with ice and temperatures were below freezing for eight consecutive days, members of the Temple ISD transportation department partnered with the city of Temple to pick up residents who were stranded in their homes without power and water, Amy Scopac, the district’s transportation director, told School Bus Fleet.

“The conditions were very poor, especially for the Central Texas area,” Scopac explained. “The city did not have the necessary resources to assist the residents that were wheelchair bound so they reached out to [the district] knowing that we had the ability to provide assistance.”

Approximately 10 of Temple ISD’s transportation staff joined in on the efforts in transporting people to warming stations and medical appointments, Christian Hernandez, the district’s director of communications, told SBF. He also said that the staff helped distribute groceries to those in need even after power was restored in the area.

“The ice storm was obviously tough on many — in fact, on most of this community — but at a time when people were doing all they could to take care of themselves and their families this group looked outside of that and took care of others,” Bobby Ott, the district’s superintendent, told SBF. “We appreciate their skillset, [and] we appreciate their commitment to the community and serving others.”

On April 12, Temple ISD presented each of the transportation staff members who were involved in the initiative with the district’s Superintendent Leadership Award.

The award, which is typically given once a month at Temple ISD’s board meeting, recognizes those who go above and beyond expectations to serve a cause greater than themselves, according to Hernandez. This was apparently the largest number of recipients honored at one time, as each participating staff member received a certificate and the entire transportation department was awarded an honorary plaque.