April is a big month for transportation in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District.
First, I’m very excited about the arrival of the District’s two brand new electric school buses. These buses will be more energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and mechanically dependable than our existing bus fleet. They also mark a big step forward in how we use science and technology to improve our everyday lives, which shows our students that the STEM education principles they’re learning really do have a positive impact in the real world.
Second, not only do we have two cool new buses to celebrate, but we also get to honor the dedicated men and women who drive our buses every day!
The fourth Tuesday of every April is celebrated nationwide as School Bus Drivers Appreciation Day. As you may know, school bus drivers are in short supply in many school districts across the country, which makes our BWSD drivers incredibly important and highly valued contributors to our students’ success. Having studied to take the school bus driver’s certification test myself, I greatly appreciate the time, energy, and experience that our drivers have invested in being able to safely and reliably transport our students, day after day.
This year, on April 28th, the Baldwin-Whitehall School District will be celebrating not only our amazing school bus drivers but also our entire Transportation Department. From buses and vans to drivers and mechanics and everyone in between, it’s our turn to say “thank you” to the people who work so hard behind the scenes to keep our District running.
It’s also a great opportunity as parents to talk with our kids about the many jobs that often go unnoticed or overlooked during a typical day, but whose contributions are invaluable. The food we eat, the clothes we wear, the homes we live in, and the entertainment we enjoy are all made not just by those people whose names are on the finished product, but also by the hundreds of people who help plan, organize, design, build, repair, and yes, transport these goods and services to us every day.
This month, let’s be grateful to everyone whose expertise and effort helps make our day-to-day possible, and especially to the school bus drivers and transportation workers who ensure that our students get to and from school safely, dependably, and on time.