Recognition of school bus drivers well deserved
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton declared Wednesday Minnesota School Bus Driver Recognition Day.
The Independent on that day published a profile on one of Marshall’s dedicated individuals willing to go the extra mile to make sure students get to school and back home safe daily.
According to reporter Jody Isaackson’s report, Deb Ertl has been driving school buses for 25 years. And Ertl considers driving school buses a dream job. That’s quite a statement considering:
• The average school bus driver makes $30,000 a year.
• Most drivers start hitting the road by 6 a.m. with the morning ending at 8 a.m. But the drivers usually have to return to the road by 2:45 p.m. to return students back home. The days are longer if the driver transports students on a field trip or overnight trip.
• Bus drivers are required to take numerous tests. One of those tests invoke taking the commercial driver’s license. The drivers also face background checks. A driver can be disqualified for three or more moving or driving violations in the last five years.
• Drivers are also transporting what parents consider their most precious cargo. And sometimes they don’t behave like angels. A teacher gets to face the students in the classroom. A school bus driver has his or her back to the students.
• There are challenges outside the bus as well. The driver must constantly be on the lookout for unsafe motorists. Some of these motorists ignore the flashing lights and stop sign on the bus indicating it’s dropping off students
Ertl calls drivers “saints.” She also said school bus drivers deserve the recognition. We agree and commend Southwest Tours for treating their school bus drivers with breakfast Wednesday.
But recognition day can be every day. We urge students and parents to thank a school bus driver for doing their job safely every day.
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