Round and round: bus drivers tirelessly transport community members
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.
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.”
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 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. ”
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.”