February 19 is a very special day in Minnesota as the statewide celebration for School Bus Driver Appreciation Day is recognized to bring awareness and recognition to the bus drivers who safely transport our students day in and day out. Here’s how Golden Valley-based Lake Country Transportation celebrated, with a peek at their bus garage and some drivers and staff members.
Inside One MN Contractor’s School Bus Driver Appreciation Day [PHOTOS]
Rachel Jones, LCT’s VP, says they host events all throughout the year to celebrate and show their appreciation, “because that's a part of our culture and what this company was really built on. We make sure it's all encompassing, that everyone knows this is their day, from the van drives and bus aides, too.”
Jones’ advice for new drivers? “Everything you need to know you will learn when you get on the road. You'll make mistakes. You won't know everything, but it will all come together. You may have a bad shift, you may have a bad day, but the next day, it's all fresh.”
Photo: Amanda Huggett
Goodie bags and free lunch was one way LCT drivers felt the love on February 19.
Photo: Amanda Huggett
LCT gave all their drivers free lunch and snacks for appreciation day.
On some days, Banks says bus drivers are out there like postal workers, snow or shine. “Personally, I feel their appreciation here,” she says. “Being here is joyful.”
Photo: Amanda Huggett
Lake Country has upped its pay rates for both bus and van drivers for the 2024-2025 school year to combat the driver shortage. It has about 80 drivers but needs more to cover all the needed routes. Current pay for bus drivers is $27.50-$31.50 per hour, and for van drivers it is $20.50 an hour.
Photo: Amanda Huggett
Lake Country Transportation started off as a van business and added school bus service after about five years. serves multiple districts across the Twin Cities, including Hopkins, Brooklyn Center, Osseo, Maple Grove, Corcoran, and a few private schools.
Its core values are Intentionality, Playfulness, and Character, and they look for these qualities in its team members.
Photo: Amanda Huggett
Bus driver Gordy Barsaloux and paraprofessional Ben Ratzlaff stand together in between the morning and afternoon routes. Gordy says this is the best job he’s ever had.
His advice for new drivers? “Always be patient. Be kind. Shake their hand and let them know that you care about them.”
Photo: Amanda Huggett
Lake Country has a fleet of about 100 buses and vans, 30 of which are used for special-needs. One of its new mechanics Dell shared that they mostly fleet Blue Birds and Thomas Builts, run on both diesel and propane.
Photo: Amanda Huggett
John Spakousky, LCT’s operations director, praises the company’s drivers for their relationships with their riders.
One driver recently was able to handle a situation where a student didn’t have a bus pass to be dropped off at someone else’s house. “How do we get kids home without a bus pass?” he says. “Well, this driver knew the children, so we're able to do a verbal transport. It would not have happened if the driver hadn't known the students, where they got on it, where they got off, and who their friends were. She knows the kids, that's the biggest thing right. It’s very exemplary; we hope for all of our drivers to be able to do that.”
Photo: Amanda Huggett
Linda Dixon gas been a bus driver for 28 years and has seen many students ride the bus all the way from kindergarten through senior year. Her favorite thing about it is seeing the students’ personalities.
Photo: Amanda Huggett
Photo: Amanda Huggett