3D.

Director of Transportation Interview

On June 23, 2016, I met with Garrett County Public Schools
Director of Transportation, Richard Wesolowski. GCPS contracts school
bus service to 37 local contractors, which entails 62 route buses and
75 total buses. Some buses are spare buses to be used for field trips
and athletics. Two other individuals work in the transportation office,
Missi Nesselrodt, the transportation secretary, and Ronnie Bray, the
transportation assistant.
Transportation funding comes from the state and local
governments. Theres no direct funding, just money that goes into a
large budget and is then allocated accordingly. Some funds do come
from special education as our county has 12 special need buses.
Because the buses are contracted, money is then paid to the
drivers for their vehicle (payment), drivers hourly wage, attendant (if
necessary), and maintenance of the bus (per mile). The per-mile pay is
$1.20 and bus maintenance issues (large or small) must be paid out of
this amount. Extra money is not provided for large, one-time repairs.
Rates must be competitive to insure the hire of good drivers.
The transportation office handles field trips, athletics, Hickory
and College & Me trips, Allied Health/Child Care, Living History trips,
and Fine Arts trips. Though another department approves the trips,
transportation handles all the bus needs.
Equipment must be inspected four times per year. Involved in
the inspection are transportation office staff, mechanics, and someone
from the state. Drivers are expected to be current on the maintenance
of their vehicle. It is also checked for cleanliness. Whats most
important is the safety of the students and driver. The cosmetic
condition of the vehicle comes second.
GCPS has 62 regular drivers. Of these drivers, 48 drivers have
been working for GCPS for 10 years and over. 20 of the 62 are ages
50-59 and 44 of the 62 are over the age of 50. Causes for concern are
health and surgeries, but one of the benefits is their knowledge of the
kids, their parents, and the area.
Some other issues arise in relation to personnel including
recruiting people to get certified and finding qualified applicants.
Drivers must be able to pass random drug and alcohol tests and
background checks and are declined if they have more than 2 points
on their license or other criminal charges. Another challenge in
recruiting is that driving a bus is only a part-time job. Its hard to make
a living doing this type of work. It works well for farmers and others
who can break up their work throughout the day, but it doesnt work
well for single parents.
Training and safety is a primary goal. Drivers must take a
certification class and receive nine hours of behind-the-wheel training.
To earn their CDLs, the BOE will pay for drivers to take the written test,

the driving test, and then they must complete six hours of in-service
training. Drivers are evaluated every two years.
Some issues do arise with student behavior on the buses. Each
bus is equipped with a four camera video system. Most GCPS buses
transport students from K-12 on the same bus. The younger students
have the most difficulty on the bus, usually with staying seated and
noise level. Middle and high students tend to stay entertained with
their phones or other electronic devices. The devices generally do not
cause any problems, although in the case of an accident, there could
be some issues. It does help when a bus breaks down, as most
students are in immediate contact with their parents and can be picked
up even before a replacement bus is sent out. Parents of kindergarten
students tend to be the most worried and contact the transportation
office more frequently than other parents. Most behavior issues on the
buses are resolved by the principals and drivers working together. The
transportation office generally only needs to be involved if a student
gets kicked off the bus.
The transportation office is especially helpful and considerate of
student needs and will travel out of area to assist with special needs,
homeless, foster kids, and temporary/emergency circumstances if
asked.