District 113 Recognizes Bus Drivers During Bus Safety Week

Township High School District 113 bus drivers were recognized during a board meeting this month in honor of “National School Bus Safety Week,” which was from October 19-23.

n appreciation of the multiple jobs the drivers accomplish for District 113, throughout the course of the week the Transportation Department provided coffee and bagels, a pancake breakfast and pizza lunch. One morning, drivers also received flashlights to reflect the department’s emphasis on the importance of drivers pre-tripping their buses.

At the meeting, the Department was represented by Tina Menendez, who has been with District 113 for 14 years, and Fidel Arias, who has been with District 113 for nine years, as well as Transportation Director Rob Weiler and Assistant Director Wendy Jahnke.

“We are so appreciative of District 113’s bus drivers and our entire Transportation Department for everything they do for our students, staff and schools each and every day,” said School Board President Annette Lidawer.

Thousands of Highland Park and Deerfield students ride the bus each week including the morning and afternoon routes, the late activity run and door to door transportation for some special needs students. In addition, District 113 drivers provide more than 2,600 field and athletics trips per year, and transport 37 special education students each day to 51 locations per week for their Transition Work Program.

“Our staff is very dedicated in every type of weather and always rise to the occasion for our students and staff,” said Transportation Director Rob Weiler. “Our drivers take great pride in getting our students from point A to point B safely. It is a total team effort. We are fortunate to own our own buses and hire our own drivers. I feel this makes our service more personable.”