May 2007
Ulster BOCES School Bus Driver
School bus drivers from school districts throughout
“It’s her third First Place trophy,” said Gianna Russo, coordinator of transportation at Ulster BOCES. “We’re very proud of her!”
In fact, Bain has quite a collection of trophies to complement more than a decade of experience. Born and raised in the Hudson Valley, Bain started working as a school bus driver for Ulster BOCES in November 2004. Before that, she was a bus driver in the Highland Central School District for eight years. She transports students in all grade levels, including those with special needs.
Drivers at the School Bus Road-eo competed in three categories – van, conventional, and transit – and in a variety of events, with those placing first and second in their respective categories advancing to the New York State Association of Pupil Transportation (NYSAPT) Road-eo competition to be held in Albany in July where they will test their skills against drivers from across the State.
Road-eo competitors took a written test based on the laws and regulations of the New York State Department of Education, Department of Transportation, and Department of Motor Vehicles. They also were required to make a pre-trip inspection of their bus and complete an obstacle course that included a variety of tests such as student loading and unloading, right and left hand turns, and railroad crossing procedures.
“The most difficult part of the course for many drivers is the right-hand turn,” said Karen Meilleur, assistant supervisor of transportation in the Wappingers Central School District and chairperson of the event. “It’s designed to determine the driver’s ability to properly position the bus to make a right hand turn without touching the curb or encroaching on the adjacent traffic lanes,” she explained. Drivers are penalized if they fail to activate their turn signal, touch the curb with any of their tires, or move too far into the adjacent traffic lane.
Student transportation in New York State is regulated by several agencies including the State Education Department, State Department of Transportation, as well as the U.S. Department of Transportation. Bus drivers must meet stringent requirements. They must successfully complete a road test and a written test each year, as well as mandatory refresher, defensive driving, and safety courses twice a year. They must have a physical exam every year and a physical performance test once every two years. Annual medical and eye examinations are also required. Most drivers are trained in CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) use. Drivers are also subject to fingerprinting, random drug and alcohol testing, and an annual review of driving records.
“School bus drivers have a lot of responsibility,” said Peter Montalvo, president of the Mid-Hudson Transportation Supervisors Association. “These men and women transport children to and from school safely in all kinds of weather, traffic, and road conditions. It’s a responsibility they take very seriously.”
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Ulster and Dutchess Counties enjoyed a perfect spring day for testing and honing their driving skills at the regional “School Bus Road-eo” at the New Paltz High School on April 28. Jean Bain, a school bus driver for Ulster BOCES, took home yet another First Place trophy for her outstanding performance.