This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.
To the editors:
I have been a permanent part-time school bus driver for the Philadelphia School District for the past 15 years. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to hear the thoughts and concerns of those who are entrusted with transporting the most precious cargo, our school children.
Although it is not often said, Philadelphia School District drivers and bus attendants may be the best in our field. There are those of us who have had consistently perfect attendance and an accident-free work history. Then there are others whose impeccable work history deserves special distinction.
Our dedication is not compromised by snow blizzards and ice storms. With “safety first” in mind, we transport students daily. We transport the handicapped and multiply handicapped. Our motivation is powered by our commitment to excellence. Maybe we will never be commended for our undying service, but we will remain self-driven and dedicated to servicing Philadelphia School District children.
While I cannot remember in my 15 years of service that anyone has personally acknowledged the efforts of the drivers and bus attendants or come to our location to converse with us one-on-one, I will applaud our efforts myself. Our undying devotion keeps transportation moving.
Sabriya Bilal
The writer lives in West Oak Lane.