Dry runs help school buses smooth out opening-day wrinkles

Before the sun came up Monday, the parking lot at the Clark County School District Transportation Department was starting to come alive.

The largest transportation system in the state, made up of 860 school buses, began to head out of its home at 4493 Arville St. between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. The nerve center that runs the fleet started answering calls from questioning parents at 4:30 a.m.

All in all, it was a smooth first day of school for the department's drivers and staff, said Lleeann Love, assistant transportation director.

"We had a few breakdowns and we ran late on a few routes, but it was a very good first day," Love said. "We conducted some dry runs in the last two days that have helped us."

The dry runs helped drivers to cut down on first-day mistakes.

"They allow you to familiarize yourself with the routes, so that on the first day it's a lot easier," said Nancy Haile, a special education bus driver. "Special ed drivers go door-to-door so the dry runs are a huge help to us."

Haile left the lot at 5:03 a.m. and admits that she ran a little bit late during the day.

"It's easy to run a little behind on the first day because all the parents come out with their kids and want to meet you," Haile said. "I don't blame them because I'd want to know who was driving my kids."

Last year the school bus fleet traveled a combined 15 million miles and with eight new schools and more than 10,000 new students the drivers will travel even more miles this year.

The nerve center for the operation consists of approximately 20 operators, who answer the phone calls from anxious parents that are wondering which bus to put their kids on and where buses will stop.

"Sometimes there is confusion with the times buses are going to stop and with stops that have moved since last year," Love said. "Operators will be answering questions from 4:30 a.m. to 7 p.m."

Over the weekend the center received around 25,000 calls. Most of those questions are answered on the first day.

"On the first day, I try to let the kids know who I am and that they can look for me when they are not sure which bus to get on," said Cindy Knew, a driver whose route includes stops at Brinley Middle School and Ruthie Deskin Elementary School. "It's important that they identify you so they don't get lost."

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