In this new seasonal gallery, we share interesting and unusual school bus-related photos submitted to us by pupil transporters throughout the country.
Pupil Transportation in Pictures — Winter 2014
The Camas (Wash.) School District #117 transportation department recently entered the community’s local parade for the first time. The theme for the parade was “Outta This World,” so the transportation staff entered a propane-powered school bus decorated to mimic a space shuttle, complete with a solar system, wings, a fin and turbo. “Our entry was 'Camas School District — Transporting Students Into the Future,'” Transportation Director Laura Nowland says. “Our finishing touch as the bus was leaving for the parade was American flags.”
John Fahey, senior consultant at Tyler Technologies, submitted this photo, which he snapped during a visit to the School District of Philadelphia in 2007. “It was a retired district-owned route bus that they adapted to plow the yard,” Fahey explains. “Pretty clever!”
Here's a ceremonial signing of Arizona House Bill 2170, which Gov. Jan Brewer (seated) approved in April 2013. Yvonne Hunter, an attorney (in the silver top), represented the family of Elizabeth Bates and assisted with the bill. Bates was killed exiting a school bus on a private road. She is in the framed photo on Brewer’s desk. Also in the picture are Bates’ family and student transportation administrators Antonio Mlynek (in the black sports coat) and Dean Humphrey (to Mlynek's right). They supported the bill's passage. Photo by Mark Butler
Waterford (Calif.) Unified School District’s transportation department staff participated in their community’s “Trunk or Treat” held in the downtown area on Halloween last year. “All the drivers helped to dress the Ghoul Bus and stayed to greet the kids and promote safety around the bus,” Transportation Director Suzanne Bauer says. "Our Frankie [Frankenstein, pictured here] encourages students to stay five giant steps away from the bus. Ms. Judy, bus No. 9, dressed as a witch for the occasion. Mr. Matt, a sub driver, was a mummy, and Bianca Mataka and Anthony Strong from the high school drama department helped out as safety cats. We had a great time. The kids were so excited.”
Theresa Thomsen, transportation supervisor at Washougal (Wash.) School District, snapped this photo of a rainbow over the transportation facility.
Kurt Kuffner, business manager at St. Marys (Ohio) City Schools, snapped this photo while on the roof of the district’s St. Marys Memorial High School. “I was photographing the exterior masonry veneer of our building in anticipation of some needed repairs,” he explains. “While on the roof, our buses started to arrive in anticipation of dismissal of school. It was a very beautiful day, a neat scene, and I had my camera with me, so I pointed, focused and snapped the photograph.”