The following is a press release from the Ukiah Unified School District:
Ukiah Unified School District Trustees adopted Resolution No. 10, 2021-22 at their February 2022 meeting, declaring February 22, 2022, as School Bus Driver Appreciation Day. The resolution states that Ukiah Unified School District believes it is important to salute and appreciate school bus drivers and recognize the invaluable contributions they make to education and safety each and every day.
“Our bus drivers are simply the best! They’re so much more than drivers; they are responsible for our most precious cargo. Each child is someone’s baby, and it’s their huge responsibility to keep them safe. Not only do our drivers get kids to and from school safely, but they are also the first ones to volunteer and help out all over the District. We wouldn’t have been able to distribute meals during the pandemic without them,” said Ukiah Unified Trustee president Zoey Fernandez.
The National Academy of Sciences, The United States Department of Transportation, and other authorities agree that school buses are the safest form of transportation for getting children to and from school. In 2020, Ukiah Unified bus drivers safely transported more than 1,400 students between home and school every day, totaling 136,285 SAFE miles and 14,427,983 total SAFE miles from 2017-2020. Ukiah Unified bus drivers have been busy, and the SAFE miles for 2021 will be much greater than 2020. The Ukiah Unified fleet consists of 16 Type I buses, including 8 electric buses!
Bus drivers are a crucial link in the education chain, so we want to spotlight our drivers and celebrate the vital contribution they make to the success of our community. February 22, 2022, is National Bus Driver Appreciation Day. Join Ukiah Unified School District as we appreciate and celebrate our school bus drivers, driver’s aides, and transportation staff. Let’s recognize the invaluable contributions they make to education and safety!
What you can do to appreciate our fantastic bus drivers:
- Take a selfie with a bus driver and share it on social media.
- Give a bus driver a gift, card, or letter.
- Treat a bus driver to coffee or lunch.
- Say THANK YOU! Let them know you appreciate them.
“The best part about being a driver is getting to see the kid’s happy faces in the morning when they get on. Asking them about their day, taking them home, and making sure they’re safe. That’s why we do what we do,” stated Debbie Kirby, Ukiah Unified Driver Instructor. “Working as a driver is so rewarding I wouldn’t give it up for anything.”
If you or anyone you know wants to start a rewarding career helping our community as a school bus driver, please call 707-472-5040 or visit www.uusd.net and click on Employment Opportunities. You can also stop by in person at 511 South Orchard Avenue in Ukiah and fill out an application. Join our team and make a difference in the lives of our children!
Very nice recognition! Driving school bus can be a stressful job but also a very rewarding job. I was lucky, many years ago, to have some of the sweetest children on my school bus while driving for the Round Valley School District. I still treasure their friendships.
I want to die peacefully in my sleep like grandpa did.
Not screaming in fear like all the passengers in the bus he was driving
Great bus driver up here! Let’s remember to all do something nice for those that work hard for our kids!!