April 25, 2024

USD 457 Bus Driver places at State Competition

The Garden City Public Schools Transportation Department had two school bus drivers participate in the Kansas State Pupil Transportation Association’s School Bus Rodeo Safety Competition held in Hutchinson, Kansas.  Melanie Turner took second place in the Transit division and Jerry Guerrero also competed during the contest. The competition was held during the Association’s School Transportation Safety Symposium on Wednesday, June 6th and Thursday, June 7th.

The school bus safety competition is designed to recognize excellence in school bus drivers while demonstrating skills needed in their demanding jobs of safely transporting students.  The competition consists of a written exam and a series of skills tests.

The written examination tests the school bus drivers’ knowledge in all areas of school bus operations, laws, rules and regulations. This portion of the competition tested the drivers’ knowledge as well as their ability to comprehend and respond to written instructions.

The driving skills portion of the competition requires the drivers to demonstrate exemplary skills in such areas as law/regulation knowledge, school bus inspections, and bus driving skill maneuvers.  The drivers were challenged to maneuver a school bus around obstacles and demonstrate that they know all the ins and outs of operating a school bus.