Excitement is in the air as the new school year is upon us. The classrooms are prepped; pencils are sharpened. Students are alert and eager to learn. The District continually strives to provide world-class facilities and healthy interior environments that enhance the educational experience of students, staff, and visitors.
Transportation Services conducts the annual in-service training for drivers and attendants at Palm Beach Lakes High School. Over 900 employees attended the required DOE annual safety training and both auditoriums were utilized to conduct the training.
The Department of Education requires all bus drivers to have 8 hours of in-service training annually. The Chief of Support Operations Joseph Sanches attended and conducted the pledge of allegiance and opening prayer. Mr. Sanches also presented the “Yellow Oath” to the drivers and attendants and required all employees to sign the pledge “I will ensure every experience with Transportation Services exceeds expectations”. Board member Marcia Andrews also attended as a guest speaker and thanked the employees for their dedication with transporting the 45,000 district students.
Driver and Attendants selected their routes at Royal Palm Beach High School this school year. Drivers and Attendants select their routes based on seniority. Bus Drivers and Attendants can select a route, mid-day, and activity run at any of the (6) transportation locations. Bus drivers must have a valid driver’s license and updated DOT physical to be eligible for route selection.
All routes are posted at each facility for viewing two days prior to route selection day. Routes are also posted during selection day for viewing. All routes are posted on the wall and employees select their routes when their seniority number is called. Over 627 routes were posted for selection this year, six more than last school year. An assigned school bus is assigned after routes are selected. Transportation Services are expecting to transport over 46,000 students this school years.
Drivers and Attendants are provided a copy of the route with the assigned stops and schools that will be serviced. The route total hours and stops times are listed for viewing so that drivers can become familiar with the route schedule.
A school bus driver from East Transportation was interviewed by a local news station during the “Mock Day” run. The driver gave the media an overview of the mock day process and the requirements for conducting a pre/post-trip bus inspection.
Mock Day is an annual event for drivers and attendants and is conducted just before school starts. Drivers and attendants drive the actual route, AM and PM leg, to locate the stops and schools. The route stop times are also evaluated by the drivers and are adjusted if needed. Drivers also familiarize themselves with the buses and report all mechanical malfunctions for immediate repair. Transportation Services drivers drove over 11 million bus miles last school year.
Early Sunday morning 19 August 2012, a day before school opening, mechanics from the South facility was called to relocate buses to higher elevations due to a flooded parking lot. Over 60 buses needed to be relocated to prevent mechanical failures before the first day of school. Three mechanics accepted the challenged and relocate buses from the flood waters.
Facility Services was called to assist with removing water from the parking lot and diligently worked to correct the problem for STRANS. They utilized portable pumps to remove the water and ensure all mechanical pump failures were corrected to prevent future occurrences.
Join the Division of Support Operations in taking a deep breath from all your hard work and celebrate the opening of the 2012-13 school year with the “Back to School Bash”
When: August 31st, 2012 after work
Where: Duffy’s at Forest Hill and Jog Road
6864 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33413
Please RSVP to a hospitality Team Member Found on the image above or the PDF below.
Looking forward to seeing all the Team!
Click here for Full information >>> Back 2 School Bash Information
Facilities Services
The Apprenticeship Program has been in effect in Facilities Services for five (5) years and these employees receiving their diplomas reflect the second wave of graduates in the Apprenticeship Program.
The Apprenticeship Program is offered to all Division of Support Operations employees in the following trades:
Carpentry, HVAC, Maintenance Electricians, Plumbing and Sheet Metal.
Interested employees should contact James Davis at (561)688-7689.
Cheneque Camille
Frank Ellison
Jonathan Mann
2012 One Division, One Vision – Division Meeting Photos/Awards
Photos: Please find a collection of photos from the Event here
Congratulations to the following staff members and there continued dedication to the the division of Support Operations
Facilities Management Employee of the Year
Jim Whitney, Environmental Technician with the District’s Environmental and Conservation Services (E&CS) was presented with the Facilities Management Employee of the Year Award at the DSO’s annual meeting. Jim has been with the District for 19 years.
East Transportation Facility
Bus Driver of the Year – Timothy Haines
Bus Attendant of the year – Joseph Sherman
Mechanic of the Year – Terry Bevan
South Transportation Facility
Bus Driver of the Year – Glenn Todd
Mechanic of the Year – Maximo Gerardo
South ESE Transportation Facility
Bus Driver of the Year – Tanya Wilson
Bus Attendant of the year – Vernell Crumpler
North Transportation Facility
Bus Driver of the Year – Oral Pryce
Bus Attendant of the year – Magalene Anderson
Mechanic of the Year – Gilberto Canut
West Transportation Facility
Bus Driver of the Year – Cynthia Butler
Bus Attendant of the year - Marilyn Jackson
Mechanic of the Year – Willie Johnson
Royal Palm Transportation Facility
Bus Driver of the Year – Byron Walker
Bus Attendant of the year – Beverly Jackson
Mechanic of the Year – Larazo Torres
Central Transportation Facility
Bus Driver of the Year – Frantz Beauduy
Mechanic of the Year – Eladio Saavedra
Transportation Services (Department)
Parts Technician of the Year – Pio Diaz
Transportation Foreperson of the Year – Enrique Sanchez
Transportation Helper of the Year – Faniel Raphael
Senior Coordinator of the Year – Annie Watts
Coordinator of the Year – Ann Hales
Facilities Services
Please join us in congratulating Hector Pagan (Construction Worker) and Michael McMillon (HVAC Tech) who recently graduated from the Florida Air Conditioning Apprenticeship Association (FACAA) program on August 2, 2012.
Hector Pagan and Mike McMillon
For more information on the Apprenticeship Program please contact James Davis at (561) 688-7689.
The DSO Chief’s Challenge took place this weekend with several DSO staff members taking part in the 8th Annual Dreher Park Dash. Joe Sanches offered up a challenge to his Division staff to run with him at the event.
Staff times in order of finish are as follows:
Joe Sanches Time: 32 minutes and 32 seconds
Dale Fambrough Time: 32 minutes and 32 seconds
Linda Mark Time: 33 minutes and 23 seconds
Kesta James Time: 34 minutes and 34 seconds
