Tuesday, November 19 - Bus Transportation Appreciation Day
- GCS employs 450 bus drivers (including subs) and 110 bus aides.
- In Greenville County, 356 school buses transport 25,000 children every day.
- Our buses travel more than 25,000 miles per day – that’s more than a trip around the world, every day!
Deera Terry, School Bus Driver - Transportation
Bus drivers are the first staff members many students see in the morning. The atmosphere on the school bus can set the tone for the rest of a student’s day. Driving a school bus requires special skills to react quickly in heavy traffic or bad weather, and to maintain order on the bus by enforcing the rules regarding student conduct.
School bus driver Deera Terry has worked for GCS for more than 16 years. She currently drives for Brushy Creek Elementary, Riverside Middle and Riverside High. Between her regular routes, she drives students to and from the Fine Arts Center, and at the end of the school day she picks up students at East North Street Academy and transports them to Roper Mountain Science Center for an after-school program.
Being a positive role model for students is important to Deera. “I take great pride in managing students by keeping a positive attitude,” she said. “The most rewarding part of my job is knowing that I have safely transported students to and from school. I love seeing the smiles on their faces, hearing their giggles and comments, and experiencing their energy that radiates from them. These kids help keep me young,” she added.
Carl Allmond, General Technician - Donaldson Bus Transportation Center
Transportation Master Mechanic Carl Allmond is the go-to man when magnet, IB, No Child Left Behind, and activity buses need repairs such as electrical, brakes, ignition, seats, and wiring. He works out of the Transportation Center at Donaldson. “I am one of four mechanics designated to work on about 130 buses,” said Carl. “My job is to maintain the safety of these buses and make sure they are working properly so students get to and from school safely.” Carl is also one of the crew that is dispatched to repair buses that have broken down.
Once a year, every bus in his fleet gets a major annual checkup from end to end. Additionally, buses get a bi-monthly overhaul that includes changing the oil and filters, checking transmission fluid and antifreeze levels, tire pressure, and other routine maintenance.
Carl has worked for Greenville County Schools for 24 years, but says he’s been a mechanic all his life. “It is satisfying to know that at the end of the day, I had a small part in getting students to and from school safely because of what I do to maintain the buses.”