Wood County Schools planning job fair

(File Photo) Wood County bus driver Chris Dellinger waits for his bus to fill up after school is dismissed. Wood County Schools will hold a Job Fair.

PARKERSBURG – Wood County Schools’ transportation department is the backbone of the district’s operations, working tirelessly to ensure students get to and from school safely every day, Superintendent Christie Willis said.

“They’re our eyes and ears of what’s going on out there,” she said.

The transportation staff report issues like traffic accidents, power outages, and more to district leaders.

Chad Bloss, director of transportation, said from before dawn until late in the evening, the team of bus drivers, mechanics, and support staff are on the move, responding to a variety of challenges.

During inclement weather, he said some in the department start their day as early as 3:30 a.m., with a team of drivers and mechanics checking road conditions across the county.

“We have a team that drives the roads, whether it be flooding, snow, high winds – because we do get trees that go down, we have water that comes up, and we have snow on the ground,” he said.

Willis said this is crucial for making a decision by 5 a.m. on whether to delay or cancel school due to inclement weather.

“We have cooks in the county who start making breakfast (around that time),” she said. “We gotta call time on that so they’re not out on the roads if we’re not going to have school. So it’s very much time sensitive as to making that judgment call.”

Bloss said teams will even run the roads to check conditions in the afternoon to make sure routes are safe for students to get home.

“You have to monitor what’s going on all the time,” he said.

The transportation team not only oversees the 87 daily buses making routes, but also provides year-round transportation for extracurricular activities, field trips, and even weekend events.

Mechanics also play a crucial role, maintaining a fleet of over 100 buses and responding to breakdowns or issues on the road.

“Something happens to that bus. Those mechanics are on call. They have to go,” Willis said. “They fix buses in cold weather, rain and all kinds of conditions.”

Bloss said the district has a full-service shop, where mechanics can perform everything from routine maintenance to engine replacements. They also assist with tasks like clearing fallen trees, helping stuck buses, and even reporting emergencies they encounter. They have also stepped up in emergency situations, quickly responding to assist people when accidents have occurred.

“They are very good Samaritans,” Willis said. “They care deeply about student safety and the community, and we’re grateful for their dedication.”

Bloss said the department has recently made investments to modernize its operations, including upgrading the radio communication system to allow buses to call 911 directly. They integrated an electric bus into the fleet, taking advantage of state incentives, and recently purchased nine new buses – four transit buses and five regular passenger buses – adding to the 18 new buses the district has purchased the last two years.

The district is looking for new mechanics and has a comprehensive training program for new hires, Bloss said. Applicants must first pass both a written mechanics test and a hands-on skills assessment.

“It’s an intensive program, but it’s important that our mechanics are not only skilled, but also understand how to safely operate the buses,” he said.

After the classroom training, new mechanics must obtain their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) permit. The district then provides them with a minimum of 12 hours, and up to 18 hours, of behind-the-wheel instruction to become certified bus drivers.

They also offer a $1,000 annual tool allowance, as well as a $200 boot allowance, to help offset the costs of required equipment. Mechanics can also earn extra pay for obtaining Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications, up to $750 per certification.

“These are the kinds of benefits that help us attract and retain top talent,” Bloss said. “Our mechanics are the backbone of this operation, and we want to make sure they have the resources and support they need.”

He said the transportation team will continue working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep students moving. He said their efforts, often unseen by the public, are vital to the district’s success.

“The bus garage is open from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day,” Bloss said “School is Monday to Friday, but transportation is every day, all year long, minus a couple major holidays. Just because school’s off doesn’t mean the buses are.”