Louk Markham (right) started as transportation supervisor at Merced (Calif.) City School District in August. He is pictured with department secretary Gloria Bargas, shop foreman Adam Rocco (left) and dispatcher Roger VanSickle.

Do all of the school bus drivers at your operation know what's expected of them? Are there some who could use a reminder about proper conduct?

If so, you might consider giving them "The 10 Commandments for Pupil Transportation."

Louk Markham, who started as transportation supervisor at Merced (Calif.) City School District in August after 12 years at Portage (Mich.) Public Schools, said he wanted to put something together to help his employees work better as a team.

Markham came up with a list of "commandments" — ranging from licensing requirements to bus inspections to treatment of others — and shared them with his 22 drivers at a meeting earlier this month (they are reprinted below). He said that most of the drivers appreciated the message.

"It went over very well," Markham said. "It did have an impact, and it was a way for me to establish myself with my new group of employees."

Besides adjusting to a new operation, Markham has to assess how to respond to the recent announcement that funding for home-to-school transportation in California would be reduced by $248 million. 

"We're looking at all options — the possibility of cutting routes, if there are other efficiencies, if we can make kids walk farther to school," Markham said. "We are 76 percent free and reduced [meal programs for disadvantaged students]. We're concerned that these kids are not going to get to school if we don't provide transportation. And that would lower our daily attendance, which would lower our income."

Another challenge for Merced City School District is driver shortage.

"We're trying to get our substitute ranks built up," Markham said. "Our mechanics and trainers are driving too much."

The shortage is surprising, considering that Merced County currently has an unemployment rate of close to 19 percent.

"I can't figure it out," Markham said. "We have one of the highest unemployment rates in the state, but we can't get enough drivers."

He said he suspects that a key deterrent for many applicants is the amount of money and time needed to "jump through all the hoops" that are required for the job in California. For example, a potential school bus driver has to pay to get fingerprinted through the state Highway Patrol as well as through the county.

"Why can't they share fingerprints?" Markham wondered. "I'm all about making sure we get the right people driving these buses, but the process could be a barrier."

—Thomas McMahon, executive editor

"The 10 Commandments for Pupil Transportation"
By Louk Markham

I am the School Bus Driver, who safely transports children to and from school. In order to be safe and successful, I faithfully observe the following:

I. Thou shall not drive a bus without a current and appropriate CDL and endorsements as required.

II. Thou shall conduct proper pre-trip, between-trip and post-trip inspections each day to ensure the safety of myself, my passengers and the other motorists with which I share the road.

III. Thou shall not allow strangers on thy bus.

IV. Thou shall prevent accidents from occurring.

V. Thou shall not use the mechanics' names in vain.

VI. Thou shall not covet thy co-worker's students.

VII. Thou shall not covet thy co-worker's bus.

VIII. Thou shall honor thy supervisor, students and parents. While we may not always agree with them, we must be respectful of the diversity of the individuals with which we are required to work each day. They give us our daily bread.

IX. Thou shall treat others as one would like others to treat oneself (refer to VIII above).

X. Thou shall remember to keep work days for work and non-work days for family. While our gainful employment is important to our careers and to pay our bills, our family will be with us for a lifetime. As in precision driving, balance is important.