Date: Fri 20-Oct-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: AMYD

Quick Words:

school-bus-drivers-

Full Text:

School Bus Drivers Put Newtown Miles Ahead

B Y A MY D'O RIO

Fred Pendergast has been driving his school bus since 1959. His record is

spotless.

Paul Miles, a local landscaper, drives a school bus and coaches soccer at

Newtown High School.

The Newtown school bus drivers grew up here and many now have children in the

schools.

"We are not just strangers coming in from out of town," said spare driver

Carey Schierloh.

Compared to other municipalities in Fairfield County, Newtown's crew of bus

drivers is downright enviable.

So is Newtown's bus safety record. Mary Kelly, the transportation director,

said the school buses have been in only a few, if any, avoidable accidents

since she took the job about seven years ago.

"Our safety record is excellent," she said.

This is National Bus Safety Week, and Newtown school officials spent part of

Monday morning appreciating the people who make the buses safe for school

children.

Most school districts contract with one of the giant national bus companies,

like Laidlaw. With such companies, driver turnover can be constant, some of

the drivers speak little English and most may not live in the town where they

work.

In Newtown, the school bus drivers own their own buses and have individual

contracts with the school system.

Only two other towns in the state arrange bus transportation this way.

Most districts in this state either have a contract with a major bus company

or have a contract with a local, family-owned bus business.

Robin Leeds, executive director of the Connecticut School Bus Transportation

Association, said Newtown's set-up works well, but many districts would not be

able to emulate it because it requires more administrative work and most

districts could not find people willing to do it.

School Superintendent John Reed praised the Newtown crew Monday and wished

them, what else, a mild winter.

"You do a great job out there, thank you," Ms Kelly said.