Longtime Durham general manager retires
Marilee Mayes retired from the position at the school bus contractor’s Hutchinson, Kan., terminal on Friday after 27 years on the job. Mayes oversaw the student transportation for Hutchinson Unified School District 308, and she now serves the school system as a substitute school bus driver.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Marilee Mayes, the longtime general manager for Durham School Services’ terminal here, retired on Friday.
Mayes, who turned 65 on Saturday, worked as a school bus driver for the company for seven years before being appointed general manager in 1986. In her role, Mayes oversaw the student transportation services for Hutchinson Unified School District 308.
“Marilee is the type of person who stays committed to her responsibilities and serves the community with all her heart,” Durham Region Manager Kevin Rhine said. “She knows Hutchinson school transportation like no one ever has. The community is a better place because of Marilee.”
Although she has retired as a general manager for Durham, Mayes is not leaving the pupil transportation community completely. She now serves the Hutchinson school system as a substitute school bus driver.
“It will be kind of strange, but I’m looking forward to it,” Mayes said about her transition. “Anyone who’s been a general manager knows it’s a lot of hours and a lot of hard work, so it will be nice to relax a little and spend time with family.”
Mayes also noted that the people she’s worked with and served have made her job special.
“I’ve met so many great people,” she said, “from parents, to the people at the schools, to the employees here operating the bus service. They have all been so friendly, patient and understanding, while being great examples for me. I love what I do and enjoy being part of the community.”
Mayes and her husband, George, who works as the Hutchinson facility’s lead bus mechanic, have three children and 10 grandchildren, who all live in town. Their 40th wedding anniversary is in March, and their 11th grandchild is expected in September.
When her family isn’t keeping her busy, Mayes enjoys reading, music, and working on her house and in the yard.
“I earned my degree in music education at Wichita State University, so I’ve always enjoyed music,” she said. “I’ve been a bassoonist in the Hutchinson Symphony off and on for three decades, so I may do more there.”
Durham’s new general manager in Hutchinson is Don Weigel, who joined the team on Feb. 18 after many years as a local businessman.
Other recent news related to Durham School Services:
More Management
Switzer-CARTY Enters the U.S. with New Acquisition
The Canadian contractor’s acquisition of Minnesota-based Agnes Corporation marks its first cross-border expansion into the United States and adds 350 vehicles.
Read More →
BusRight Adds New Rider Tracking Technology
Safety Pass is an NFC-based student ridership tracking solution that provides real-time boarding and drop-off data to improve school bus safety and family communication.
Read More →
EverDriven Launches RideAware App With Real-Time Student Ride Visibility
The updated platform’s new features improve communication among caregivers, districts, and drivers while streamlining trip updates.
Read More →
How School Transportation Departments Can Help Acclimate New Riders to the Bus
Here's how transportation departments can turn first-day jitters into confidence for students and parents alike.
Read More →
Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Nearly 90 Years of Safely Transporting Wisconsin Students
From one farmer's act of service to a fourth-generation family business, Kobussen Buses reflects on nearly 90 years of earning the trust of Wisconsin families.
Read More →
Changing Lanes: AMF Bruns, Pro-Vision, CALSTART, HopSkipDrive, & Kooner
Check out who's been hired, promoted, and appointed to leadership positions at various school transportation industry suppliers and nonprofits.
Read More →
NCST Announces 18th Congress Event Dates, New Committees
The National Congress on School Transportation moves to St. Louis in May 2029, convening delegates and industry representatives to discuss new best practice recommendations. Now, the new committee chairs have been named.
Read More →
Key Moments from the 2026 NSTA Annual Meeting in the Mile High City
From federal policy updates and OEM presentations to speed networking and industry awards, see photos and highlights from the contractor association’s summer conference in Denver.
Read More →
HopSkipDrive Launches Spanish-Language App Update, Plans Additional Language Support
The update aims to improve communication with multilingual families by offering ride tracking, notifications, and support in Spanish, with more languages planned for the 2026-2027 school year.
Read More →
Where the Yellow Bus Takes Us: School Bus Fleet's 2026 Photo of the Year Winners
See the winning photos from School Bus Fleet's 2026 Photo of the Year contest, featuring stunning school bus images from across the U.S., from scenic landscapes to everyday moments.
Read More →