ALBANY, N.Y. — The New York Association for Pupil Transportation and the Cyr Foundation today held their annual New York School Bus Safety Road-eo at the Center for Disability Services in Albany.
More than 225 contestants, judges and team members participated in the all-day event that highlights the skills of school bus drivers, attendants and technicians who keep our children safe as they ride the yellow school bus to and from their schools.
There were actually three different Road-eo events going on over the course of the day as follows:
The first of the events of the day was the State School Bus Road-eo in which some 85 school bus drivers had their skills tested in a competition that includes proper pre-trip procedures, special turning and maneuvering, loading and unloading students, railroad crossing protocols and related challenges. There are competitions set up for drivers who specialize in conventional school buses, van-style school buses and transit-style school buses. The winners of each competitive class now qualify to move on to the national School Bus Safety Roadeo next summer. The three winners’ participation in that national event is being sponsored with funding from the New York State Bus Distributors Association.
The winners of the State Road-eo are as follows in their respective classes:
Conventional School Bus Competition
FIRST PLACE: William Vance, First Student
SECOND PLACE: Ken Palick, Lancaster CSD
THIRD PLACE: Vicki DelVecchio, First Student/Tri-County
Transit-Style School Bus Competition
FIRST PLACE: Brian Lyons, Canandaigua City SD
SECOND PLACE: Raymond DiFiore, Clarkstown CSD
THIRD PLACE: Kendrick McPhoy, First Student/Nassau Co.
School Bus Van Competition
FIRST PLACE:: Eric Baal, We Transport
SECOND PLACE:: James Cummings, Afton CSD
THIRD PLACE:: Nancy Huehn, Cobleskill-Richmondville CSD
In the Technicians/Mechanics Road-eo, seven technicians from across the state were tested for their knowledge of the school bus, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of mechanical and safety deficiencies. The winner of the competition now qualifies to move on to the national “America’s Best Technician” competition. The winner’s participation in the national event is being sponsored with funding from the New York State Bus Distributors Association.
The winners of the “Tech/Mech” Road-eo are as follows:
FIRST PLACE: James Roberts, Ridge Road Express
SECOND PLACE: Scott Sweeney, Carthage CSD
THIRD PLACE: Sean Menard, Ridge Road Express
In the Special Needs Road-eo, five teams of school bus drivers and school bus attendants were tested for their knowledge of transporting students with disabilities and special needs. They will test and compete on skills including evacuation techniques, behavior management, loading and unloading and safety procedures related to wheel chair transports. The winner of the competition now qualifies to move on to the national Transporting Students with Special Needs Roadeo competition. The winner’s participation in the national event is being sponsored with funding from the New York State Bus Distributors Association.
The winners of the Special Needs Special Needs Road-eo Winners are as follows:
FIRST PLACE TEAM
- Driver Michael Kelly, Greece CSD
- Attendant Linda Thompson, Greece CSD
SECOND PLACE TEAM
- Driver John Romano, We Transport
- Attendant Liz Bass, We Transport
THIRD PLACE TEAM
- Driver Sherry Cooper, Fayetteville-Manlius CSD
- Attendant Deborah Maines, Fayetteville-Manlius CSD
NYAPT is a non-profit organization dedicated to the support, representation and educational development of school transportation professionals who transport our school children safely and efficiently each day.
The Cyr Foundation is a 501-c-3 non-profit corporation organized to provide educational and public awareness activities and programs relating to school transportation and school bus safety.
For further information, please contact NYAPT/Cyr Executive Director, Peter Mannella, at 518-463-4937 or via email at peter@nyapt.org or via cell at 518-588-3924.
