The Garden City Public Schools Transportation Department had nine school bus drivers participate in the Kansas State Pupil Transportation Association’s School Bus Rodeo Safety Competition held in Salina, Kansas. Donna Wedel took third place in the Rookie Mini bus division, Liz Nunez took second place in the Rookie Transit division and Jerry Guerrero took third place in the Veteran Transit division. The competition was held during the Association’s School Transportation Safety Symposium on June 3rd and 4th.
The other drivers that competed from the district in the rookie transit bus division were Tamara Brennon, Angela Garcia, Kathleen Pepera, Rozella Terrazas, and Brian Virgil. Kim Nichols competed in the Veteran Transit division.
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.
