Skip to Content
Categories:

Round and round: bus drivers tirelessly transport community members

Bus driver Shellie Maclachlan pulls into the front loading zone at Harker's Union campus. The buses arrived in two waves at around 7:30 a.m. and 7:55 a.m.
Bus driver Shellie Maclachlan pulls into the front loading zone at Harker’s Union campus. The buses arrived in two waves at around 7:30 a.m. and 7:55 a.m.
Kairui Sun
After unloading his students, bus driver Steveo Corsello takes a moment to breathe. The sunlight was barely beginning to break through the fog. (Kairui Sun)

A click. A low rumble. The bright yellow school bus roars to life, spitting misty puffs of smoke from its tailpipes into the frigid, foggy air. A short hydraulic hiss later, two doors swing open, revealing a cheerful face welcoming everyone aboard. As soon as the doors open, the driver greets each student with a smile and a bright “good morning!” as the students pause to scan a specialized bus card.

“I like saying good morning or thank you, and they always reciprocate the response,” senior Robert Fields said. “They really try to make sure that everyone’s safe, but also that everyone feels comfortable, which I really appreciate. That’s a good way to start the day.”

Every day, over 300 students step aboard at least one of Harker’s buses. In the morning, 12 drivers serve six routes. They drive again after school, coordinating with sports teams for away game transportation as well as other extracurricular events. Drivers get a break in between, but their day usually lasts from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Middle school students disembark bus driver Scott Milheim's 7:55 a.m. shuttle. Before stepping out, each student scanned a specialized transportation card to confirm that they had safely made the trip.

Director of Transportation Heather Armada and her assistant, Scott Milheim, lead the transportation effort from their headquarters at the transitional kindergarten campus on Boynton Avenue.

The two fill a variety of roles: dispatcher, scheduler, and mechanic. In the event of a driver shortage, Armada and Milheim bus students to the various campuses themselves. Especially during the hectic morning rush, the two constantly communicate with drivers via walkie-talkie about live traffic conditions or potential mechanical issues.

“We have so many moving parts, and it amazes me that we’re able to get from [step] A to E and all the letters in between seamlessly,” Armada said. “When I started working here, we only had two buses. So for me to drive and watch all twelve of our buses lined up is a proud moment.”

Middle school students disembark bus driver Scott Milheim’s 7:55 a.m. shuttle. Before stepping out, each student scanned a specialized transportation card to confirm that they had safely made the trip. (Kairui Sun)
Bus driver Charlene Figone's dashboard displays the time as the bus rumbles to life. Waking up well before the sun rises, Figone was at the upper school before 7 a.m.

Students can expect their shuttle to arrive promptly at pickup sites ranging from Harker’s own campuses to other spots like Foothill College.

Robert has been dropped off to take the bus at Foothill every day for the past seven years. Robert’s family relies on the buses to keep commuting time efficient, predictable and manageable.

“The consistency of all the drivers is something that everyone should appreciate more,” Robert said. “They work really hard every single morning and never fail to get there at 7 a.m. on the dot. Whether it’s raining or if the bus has a problem, they’re always there on time.”

Bus driver Charlene Figone’s dashboard displays the time as the bus rumbles to life. Waking up well before the sun rises, Figone was at the upper school before 7 a.m. (Kairui Sun)
Figone holds a cup of oatmeal and smiles. "Every morning, that's all I have time for," she said, digging in with a wooden spoon.

Bus driver Charlene Figone spoke of her positive attitude as she handed out cookies at the upper school, part of her Christmas tradition of sharing her family’s homemade treats.

“My job is to make people smile,” Figone said. “I always greet everyone when they come on. I try very hard to learn all their names. Maybe their parents are stressed, maybe it’s a really hard day at school, but when they come on the bus, I want them to smile and enjoy their ride. If anything, we like to make that the one place where they can relax. ”

Figone holds a cup of oatmeal and smiles. “Every morning, that’s all I have time for,” she said, digging in with a wooden spoon. (Kairui Sun)
Lead bus driver Ray Frank walks back up the aisle after checking if any students left their belongings. Anywhere from one to two dozen children ride each bus. (Kairui Sun)

Milheim shared Figone’s outlook on bus driving. He noted cheering up Harker athletes as they travel to away games.

“I love trying to get the kids all riled up and ready to go play a game,” Milheim said. “And in the mornings, everyone knows how school’s a drag. I want to take that off their shoulders and just see that look on their face saying ‘This is going to be a good day.’ That right there makes my day too.”

View Story Comments