Overall winners of the 15th Annual School Transportation Association of Indiana’s School Bus Safety Competition are first-timers.
School bus drivers from all around the state of Indiana tested their skills to win top honors at the annual competition, which consisted of three tests: a written exam, pre-trip inspection and an obstacle course. In the end, a team from Franklin Township Community School Corporation consisting of Steve Conwell, Kim Garvey, and Nick Meyerrose took home the overall prize for both the transit and conventional divisions.
“We are extremely proud of all the accomplishments and talent our bus driver’s exhibited today!” wrote Justin Wilczynski, the former director of transportation at Franklin Township and soon-to-be-new transportation director for the non-profit Central Indiana Educational Serivce Center.
During the pre-trip inspection portion of the competition, participants had to find six predetermined defected items, which included a sticker on the windshield, a loose fuel cap, defected electrical wire located under bus mounted to bus frame, missing valve stem on tire, a fake bomb planted under a student seat and a faulty fire extinguisher.
Nick Meyerrose was chosen as the overall rodeo winner who will be representing Indiana and Franklin Township at the International School Bus Safety Competition on July 16-17 in Baltimore, Md. Meyerrose will compete against school bus drivers from all 50 states, Canada, and other countries. Meyerrose also recently accepted the position of director of transportation for South Vermillion Community Schools.
“All members of our department and the children he transported will miss Nick. His positive attitude, dedication to safety, and willingness to do any task for all of us will be greatly missed but never forgotten,” added Wilczynski.
