Community

Ohio County Bus Drivers In It ‘For The Long Haul’

WHEELING - Ohio County Schools showed their appreciation to bus drivers Wednesday, and at least two drivers say they truly do appreciate their jobs and are there "for the long haul."

National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day is celebrated Feb. 22 of each year, and is a day when bus drivers are acknowledged "for being good samaritans to children."

Driver Gail Meyer drives a route through West Liberty, and said signs stating, "We appreciate you," were displayed along her route. There were even a few snacks provided, she said.

Meyer has been a bus driver for 20 years. She drove a bus for the Northern Panhandle Head Start for 13 years before coming to Ohio County Schools seven years ago.

Mike Bauer took a different road to becoming a school bus driver. He worked 26 years for Brinks driving a truck before joining the school district as a substitute driver in 2018. The job became permanent in 2019, and for the last three years he has driven a bus for special needs students.

He called it "the best job I've ever had."

"When the special needs job came up I wasn't going to apply, but people said I had the personality to do it," Bauer said. "I took a risk on it, or at least I thought it was a risk. Then I realized I made a great move and it worked out."

The one-on-one interaction with the students is present with the special needs students because "you don't have 30 to 40 kids on the bus," he explained..

"The kids need a lot more attention. They need your attention. They don't need the attention of their peers," Bauer added.

He noted that on the regular bus, most students might say hello when they get on the bus, and "have a nice day" when they arrive home.

"But on my bus, it's a little more involved," he said. "I have a handful of autistic children, and I keep it as regimented as possible for them. Even with those who have behavioral issues, you can still get some common ground with them.

"Everybody has something in common with you, whether they are the best behaved kid or the worst behaved kid."

Meyer agreed Bauer was the appropriate person to drive a special needs bus.

"Mr. Mike is always happy," she said. "I've never seen him in a bad mood."

He told Meyer he had never seen her frown either.

"I like my job," she responded. "I'm here for the long haul."

Both said they are often asked if the students on the bus ever make their job difficult.

"Not really, I wouldn't say that - not any more than any adults would," Bauer explained.

Meyer admitted to feeling parental while driving the bus.

"You feel like they are your babies, and that's how I treat them," Meyer said. "I mother them."

David Crumm, director of operations with Ohio County Schools, said the school district appreciates its drivers everyday.

"They are up early and stay late," he said. "They make sure that our children go to and from school safely and on time, and they do what they need to do to get the students where they need to be."