(File photo) Wood County bus driver Chris Dellinger waits for his bus to fill up after school ends. Wood County Schools will hold a job fair.

PARKERSBURG – The Wood County Schools Transportation Department is the backbone of the district’s operations and works tirelessly to ensure students get to and from school safely every day, said Principal Christie Willis.

“They are our eyes and ears of what is happening outside” she said.

Transportation workers report issues such as road accidents, power outages and more to district leaders.

Chad Bloss, transportation director, said that from dawn until late evening, a team of bus drivers, mechanics and support staff are on the move, responding to a variety of challenges.

He added that in the event of adverse weather, some department employees start their workday as early as 3:30 a.m., and a team of drivers and mechanics checks road conditions throughout the county.

“We have a team that takes care of the roads, whether there’s flooding, snow, high winds – because we do have downed trees, water coming in and snow on the ground.” he said.

Willis said that is crucial to making a decision by 5 a.m. about delaying or canceling school due to bad weather.

“We have cooks in the district who start preparing breakfasts (at this time)” she said. “We need to establish that so they don’t go out into the streets if we don’t have school. So deciding when to make that decision is very important.”

Bloss said crews will continue to check road conditions well into the afternoon to make sure routes are safe for students returning home.

“You have to constantly monitor what’s going on” he said.

The transportation team not only oversees 87 buses running on various routes every day, but also provides year-round transportation to after-school activities, school trips and even weekend events.

Mechanics also play a key role, maintaining the fleet of more than 100 buses and responding to breakdowns or problems on the road.

“Something’s wrong with this bus. These mechanics are on duty. They have to go” Willis said. “They repair buses in cold weather, in the rain and in all sorts of other conditions.”

Bloss said the district has a full service facility where mechanics can do everything from routine maintenance to engine replacements. They also help with tasks like removing downed trees, helping with stuck buses and even reporting emergencies they come across. They also handle emergencies, responding quickly to help people when accidents happen.

“They are very good Samaritans” Willis said. “They care deeply about the safety of their students and community, and we are grateful for their commitment.”

Bloss said the department recently invested in modernizing its operations, including upgrading its radio communications system to allow buses to directly call 911 for help. They integrated an electric bus into the fleet using state incentives and recently purchased nine new buses — four commuter buses and five regular passenger buses — adding to the 18 new buses the district has purchased in the past two years.

The district is looking for new mechanics and has a comprehensive training program for new hires, Bloss said. Applicants must first pass both a written mechanics test and a hands-on skills assessment.

“It’s an intensive programme but it’s important that our mechanics not only have the right skills but also understand how to operate buses safely.” he said.

After classroom training, new mechanics must obtain a commercial truck driving license (CDL). The district then provides them with a minimum of 12 hours and a maximum of 18 hours of behind-the-wheel education to become certified bus drivers.

They also offer an annual $1,000 tool allowance and a $200 trunk allowance to help offset the cost of required equipment. Mechanics can also receive additional compensation for obtaining Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications, up to $750 per certification.

“It’s these kinds of benefits that help us attract and retain the best talent” said Blossom. “Our mechanics are the backbone of this operation and we want to make sure they have the resources and support they need.”

He said the transportation team will continue to work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep students moving. He said their efforts, often invisible to the public, are critical to the district’s success.

“The bus garage is open daily from 5am to 6pm” Blossom said “School is Monday through Friday, but transportation is available every day of the year, except for a few major holidays. Just because school is closed doesn’t mean the buses are closed.”