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School bus driver praises student progress, emphasizes safety and flexible hours
Summary
A school bus driver told a public meeting that student safety is the top priority, highlighted students' English-language gains, and described school bus driving as a flexible job that allows bonding with children.
A school bus driver spoke during public comment about safety, student progress and job flexibility, saying the top priority is getting children safely from “point A to point B.”
The commenter said safety is the district’s “biggest concern” and described heavy traffic in South Tampa and other parts of the city as a daily challenge. “I feel that, our biggest concern is the safety of the children,” the school bus driver said. The speaker added that drivers also focus on greeting students positively and building bonds with children on their routes.
The driver recounted one student’s English-language progress to illustrate the district’s work with children, saying, “Kindergartener didn't speak a bit of English when she first started. She graduated from Anderson last year, fifth grader, and she could speak English better than I could.”
On equipment and schedules, the commenter said the fleet includes “a lot of new buses” and praised coordination with schools named Robinson and Anderson for supporting drivers and students. The driver characterized bus driving as a good fit for parents and retirees because of flexible hours: “It's a perfect job for a mother. It's a perfect job for a retiree because you have that in between time where you can make your appointments.”
The remarks were personal observations offered during the public comment period; no board action or motion on transportation was presented during this speaker’s remarks.
The speaker closed by reiterating the personal and community value of the work: “It's a great job.”
