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NIAGARA, N.Y. — Industry veteran Michael Dallessandro has been appointed transportation director of Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District.

He leaves Lake Shore Central School District in Angola, N.Y., after 11 years at the helm of its transportation and facilities management system.

Dallessandro discussed the new role, which he begins Jan. 3, with SBF.

“The most important thing an incoming director can do is to take some time to get to know the people who make the operation tick every day,” he said. “In most cases, the buses are rolling and the kids are getting to school with little incident, and that is through the hard work of the team that is currently in place. They have a great deal of information that they can share.”

Dallessandro will be overseeing about 100 employees at Niagara-Wheatfield. The district has a fleet of 71 school buses — just slightly smaller than Lake Shore’s fleet of 80.

He said that after spending some time observing and learning about the operation, a new director can look at areas of potential improvement.

“As time goes on, the new set of eyes a new director can bring — coupled with a fresh perspective when reviewing existing processes and practices — can allow the director to assist the staff with minor adjustments to their operation and/or day-to-day job duties and tasks that can make their work environment less stressful,” he said.

Dallessandro, who has written many feature articles for SBF over the years, began his career in school transportation in 1988 at nearby Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District.