Four school bus drivers for contractor Durham School Services received recognition for work they have done with elementary school students off the bus. Marie Tillson, Suzanne Swayze, Beatriz Derubis and Sheila Dawson are just a few of the drivers who take part in the bus contractor’s nationwide “Adopt-A-School” program.
The women are making a difference in Stratford, Conn., said their employer, by volunteering two hours a week to help students and faculty at Second Hill Lane Elementary School. Principal James Noga presented them with certificates of appreciation last month.
“Supporting the community is something that we strongly believe in,” said Pamela Capuano, general manager of Durham’s school bus contract in Stratford. “There are countless ways our employees get involved, and helping our local schools is one of them.”
Durham’s Adopt‐a‐School program calls on employees to donate personal time to enrich the educational experiences of children across the United States. Their contributions include reading to children, helping them with homework or a class project, supporting a school event and various other tasks that can brighten a student’s day or lighten a teacher’s load.
In Keller, Texas, for example, Durham bus drivers are also giving back at Bear Creek Intermediate School. When BCI lost two lunchroom monitors due to recent budget cuts, the drivers offered to lend a hand through the Adopt-a-School program. Volunteers help out in the cafeteria three days a week, which has been a huge help to the BCI staff and a plus for students, who enjoy seeing their bus drivers during lunch.
“The time our employees have spent volunteering at schools is definitely appreciated by students and staff, and it’s great to get that positive feedback from the school administration,” Capuano noted. “It’s a program we know is meaningful to the community, and we’ll continue to do it.”
Currently, Durham, Petermann Bus (U.S.) and Stock Transportation (Canada) operate more than 20,000 buses and serve 450 school districts in 32 states and four provinces. Their parent company is Warrenville, Ill.-based National Express Corporation, the North American subsidiary of UK’s National Express Group.
