Anchorage Daily News

WASILLA - Inside First Student headquarters on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, veteran and fledgling bus drivers congregated around tables scattered throughout the first floor, some eating lunch and others shooting the breeze.

Above them, in the same yellow as their reflective safety vests, hung signs on the wall with advice for people who earn their living on the road: "Keep Your Eyes Moving," "Get the Big Picture," and "Leave Yourself an Out."Mary Ann Arnold slipped into her vest prior to being joined by her trainer, Kay Seward. Although Arnold holds a commercial drivers license and has one year as a school bus driver in Washington state under her belt, she's required to take First Student training like any other new personnel. She and three other volunteers were in day three of the 46-hour training to prepare for hitting the road for real next month.

As the training pairs formed, Arnold and Seward started for the door.

"So what's the first thing you do before you go outside?" asked Seward, who balanced a thick training manual in one arm.

"Prepare mentally," Arnold replied, taking a deep breath.

DRIVING WITH CHILDREN

Linda Rivera's office is on the second floor of the First Student office. Rivera, who is contract manager for First Student, has 28 years of experience in what she calls "pupil transportation." Like all First Student employees, Rivera started out as a driver. She's weathered seven bus contractors, but no matter which company's name is on the letterhead, an emphasis on safety remains constant.

As do most of the drivers. Rivera said there's little turnover within the ranks, boasting a retention rate of 75 to 80 percent, for a total of 155 drivers. Applicants are screened with a mandatory drug test and a background check and must have a clean driving record.

But there are less formal requirements that are just as important as the legal ones.

Jenè Hodges has shepherded dozens of new drivers through the process in her decade as an instructor. The perfect bus-driver personality "has a lot of humor," Hodges said during a break from training. "They're relaxed, pretty mellow people, who have to love kids."

All the love is useful when you're dealing with 55 unruly elementary students hopped up on candy from the Christmas party. Rivera winced when reminded of the hyperactive fallout from those classroom parties.

"You have to learn how to deal with them," she said. "It's all about good management skills."

PRE-TRIPPING

Arnold and Seward trudge through the rain to bus No. 55, a 40-footer capable of carrying more than 80 elementary-sized children. Before Arnold stepped aboard, she swept the exterior visually, checking on tire pressure, engine components, lights and the mechanical arm bolted to the front.

Inside, after checking the oil, the emergency exits and the brakes, Seward fired up the engine with a floor-shaking rumble. To new drivers, the idea of navigating tons of metal through traffic while carrying 60 students, can be overwhelming at first.

The risks and challenges are worth it, at least to Hank Nelson. A retired lumberjack, Nelson was a school bus driver in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough for five years before taking a break. Now he's back in training because for him, being a driver is just the start.

"At the end of the day, you know you've taken care of - this sounds like a cliché but it's true - the future of the world," Nelson said. "There are all kinds of opportunities to make a difference."

Back on bus No. 55, Seward swapped places with Arnold. With a blare of the horn, Arnold backed out, Seward directing her. She slid the engine into drive, moving forward as if at the prow of a ship, the road rolling right under her feet.

It can be a rush, sitting in the driver's seat every morning, Seward admitted.

"It's fun," Arnold said. "It's very cool to be up so high."

Find Melodie Wright online at adn.com/contact/mwright or call 352-6721

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