School bus operations and the people who run them typically don't attract much attention — that is, unless something goes wrong.

But a Michigan district, Hartland Consolidated Schools in Howell, is giving some positive publicity to its longtime transportation supervisor, Jill Fons.

Hartland recognized Fons as its April "Person of the Month" and posted a profile of her on the district's Facebook page.

The school transportation veteran has worked for Hartland for 23 years, starting as a school bus driver, then a dispatcher and then transportation supervisor. Fons has served in the supervisory position for the past 12 years.

In the profile, when asked what has kept her at Hartland for so long, Fons explained that she enjoys her job "because I really care about the students, and every day is different. We don’t just provide safe and efficient transportation to and from school, but are a big part of their educational day."

She noted, though, that one part of her job she won’t miss when she retires is "checking the road conditions at 3 a.m." to assist with the decision on whether to close school.

Fons said that one of the most memorable moments in her career has been the passage of Public Act 422, which restricts students who are convicted of initiating bomb threats from applying for a driver license for three years. The legislation was proposed by Bill Yurgelaitis, a Hartland school bus mechanic (and the "Person of the Month" in November), after the district experienced a rash of bomb threats in 2001.

Fons' contributions to the district have extended beyond her transportation roles. She organized Hartland's first girls golf team, and she has served as a team manager for boys varsity hockey and golf.

To read the full profile on Fons, go here. The "Person of the Month" profiles are also published in Hartland's monthly Community Life newsletter.