Bus drivers are a vital cog in the machine that makes up the Nixa Public School system. While the job can be rewarding, it comes with a high level of responsibility and drivers sometimes have to deal with disrespectful riders.
Denise Vanderslik has been a bus driver for 28 years. Her everyday duties begin before the sun rises every morning.
“We get up … about 4:00 [a.m.], and I’m at work at 5:45,” Vanderslik said. “I go pick up all of the kids and take them to school and then I’m usually done about 8:45. I come home and then [do] … everything that [I] need to do [until] roughly around 1:30 we go back to work. We’ll go and pick up the kids at the junior high, and then the elementary, take them all home and then we’re done about a quarter ’till 5.”
Dealing with disrespect from students is sometimes part of the job. Nixa High School counselor Carrie Stormzand said there are reasons why this may be happening.
“I think that bus drivers have a very important role in safety and getting students home and to school …, and my guess on that is that, unfortunately, students do not understand the significance of the safety, and respect the position for what it is,” Stormzand said.
Donna Collins, head of transportation for Nixa Public Schools, said she has noticed a rise in the level of disrespect shown towards bus drivers and transportation staff in recent years; not only by students, but by parents as well.
“This mostly occurs when the student is having discipline issues on the bus and the student is being suspended from riding the bus,” Collins said. “This is why I communicate with the parents. Bus drivers do not need this added stress when they have an upset parent displaying negativity.”
While the person may not realize it in the moment, the disrespectful words or actions can have a long-lasting effect on their recipient.
“I think that we are all human, and humans have emotions and certainly in any position where you are being disrespected — especially driving a bus where you have to be aware of the road and other drivers and a lot of students; if your mind’s not in a good headspace, then it certainly can impact how you’re feeling [along with] your concentration,” Stormzand said. “On top of that, if kids are being disrespectful on the bus, then [bus drivers] are having to correct or do anything that loses focus of the task at hand of the safety; like watching the road.”
However on the flip side, Vanderslik said she doesn’t let disrespect get in the way of completing her job.
“No, [it would not make a negative impact on my day],” Vanderslik said. “It might at the moment for a little bit, but then you have to let it go because you don’t know what kind of day they’re having and what’s going on in their life.”
Despite all of the bad moments, the good can balance the scales. Vanderslik said she loves her job and recommends others join the transportation industry at Nixa.
“If you’re thinking about it, it’s a great part-time job for a mom who wants to just work a little bit and be home with her kids still on holidays and summer,” Vanderslik said. “It is extremely, extremely rewarding.”