May 7, 2024 • 31 mins
Ever wonder who's at the heart of our children's daily journey to school? Today, we're tipping our hats to the heroes of the morning rush—school bus drivers. Our very own Ayan Omar, joined by three of District 742's finest, Abdi Kaarshe, Abdul Abdi and Paul Burris, steers us through the laughter and challenges that paint the world of those who drive our students. Their shift from long-haul trucking to navigating school routes unfolds tales of precious family moments and the immeasurable impact they have on the kids they greet each day.
As the wheels on the bus go round and round, so do the stories of appreciation that fuel the spirits of these drivers. Our episode blossoms with tales of simple yet profound thanks, from homemade cookies to heartfelt notes, painting a vivid picture of the community's gratitude.
But the journey doesn't end at the last stop; it continues into the world of creativity and mentorship. One of our guests, a devoted father, artist, and mentor, shares how the flexibility of his role as a bus driver complements his passion for art and fostering young minds. His story, complete with a chuckle-worthy anecdote about his young passengers, illustrates how these custodians of the daily commute are crafting a community, one ride at a time. Join us for a trip down the route of gratitude and inspiration—it's a ride worth taking.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The 742 CoffeeCast is your ultimate destination for
insightful conversations,thought-provoking ideas and
innovative strategies in StCloud Area School District.
Your host is Director ofCommunity Engagement and
Communications, tammy DeLand.
Grab a cup of coffee and joinus.
Good morning, hi, both of you.
(00:26):
Good morning, good morning,good morning, hi bus driver.
Good morning, good morning,good morning, good morning, good
morning, good morning, goodmorning, good morning.
Welcome to CoffeeCast.
This is our sixth episode andwe are excited to celebrate it
(00:46):
on School Bus DriverAppreciation Day with Abdi
Karshi and Abdul Abdi, two ofour District 742 bus drivers.
Also, I have a special guesthost with me today, ayaan Omar,
director of Equity Services forSt Cloud Area Schools.
So welcome to all of you andthank you for being here.
(01:08):
Ayaan, maybe you could start bytalking a little bit about your
years in the district anddescribe the different roles
you've played.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Of course.
I started in the district as apara over at Discovery, and then
I was a language arts teacherat Tech High School for about
nine years before making thetransition to the director of
equity services.
This is my third year in thisrole and I've enjoyed every
(01:37):
minute of it.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Abdi and Abdul.
Can you tell us a little bitabout your families and maybe a
little bit about your background?
Speaker 4 (01:46):
We'll start with you, abdi.
I have a wife and five children, so I have two twins, twins,
yeah, twins Two boys and twoboys and one girl.
So before I started for busdriving, I was a truck driver.
So I'm coming two years ofdriving for bus.
So I was truck driver, so I'mcoming two years of driving bus.
(02:06):
So I like this job.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Two years with us.
Yeah, two years yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
I like this job Great , so maybe next year I'm going
to start again.
So I like it.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Thank you, abdul.
Speaker 5 (02:20):
My name is Abdul Qadir Abdi.
I started this school 742December 5th 2022.
I'm a school bus driver and I'ma dad with four kids.
My kids go to Oak Hill School.
They are fourth grade andsecond grade, so I enjoy driving
for the 742.
(02:41):
So, like I used to be a truckdriver, like long journey state
to state, so right now I work inthe day shift, then nighttime I
go home sleep.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Avdi and Abdul.
I understand that you are bothformer truck drivers who
received your CDL, which iscommercial driver's license, on
the same day and began driving aschool bus for us in 2022.
And now you've become friends.
Can you share why you wanted tobecome a school bus driver?
(03:13):
Well sure.
Speaker 5 (03:14):
Like when I say school, like, say, truck driver,
truck driver needs like a lotof hustle, like state to state
all the time driving, missingyour home's kids.
So driving bus is different.
So you have your family at homedaytime anytime.
So daytime you walk with thekids and then you go with your
(03:37):
home with your kids.
So that's the difference.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Yes, the value of family time, time with your kids
.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
Yeah, I understand Time with my kids, yeah, and
just sleeping good at night.
Yes, rather than being on theroad Rather than being driving
all of the state from state tostate, then you know that and I
enjoy driving school bus.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
How about you, Abdi?
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Yeah, I'm driving like a HE I don't know-old truck
driver, so I miss my family.
When I bought the two Twins, Istopped driving truck so
enjoying the 742 bus driver.
That's why I miss my family, soI stay home.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Yeah, so after having twins, the workload became a
bit more.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
I had my wife, so they're still home.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Oh, that's good.
How long have you lived in StCloud, Abdi?
Speaker 4 (04:33):
I come to 2000.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
2000, wow.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Yeah, I'm still living here.
That's remarkable.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Yeah, wondering if and either one of you can start
on this one can you describewhat a typical day is like
driving the school bus.
What's the best part of yourday?
Speaker 5 (04:52):
So every day is a good day.
Today's raining, but you know,like the dry season is good.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
So, abdul, what would you say from the moment you
wake up to when your day ends?
What does that look like towhen your day ends.
Speaker 5 (05:03):
What does that look like?
Oh yeah, I woke up in themorning like 5.30, take shower,
then raise up, go to busstations and do the bus pre-trip
inspection, look tires, whichone is bad, which one is good.
So, like, report everything soI can drive this safe bus to the
kids and I love it.
I enjoy that.
So kids are like sometimes weare friends.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
I love my bs9, so so my kids is good you can like
talk to, like, just like yourkids.
Speaker 5 (05:34):
Some are so mean, some are so good, so you can't
say, hey, come on, let's make itanother day relationships.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Yeah, it's very important.
Yeah, how about you, abdi?
What's the best part of yourday?
Speaker 4 (05:45):
Yeah, all day is my best day, so I'm enjoying my
driving for bus.
I like my kid I'm picking upfor, so I like it.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Trucking and bus driving both require carrying
cargo, but of course our cargois very precious our family's
children.
What do you love about drivingthis precious cargo, the?
Speaker 5 (06:11):
school bus.
As I said before, it's good todrive in the daytime, enjoy your
10 hours with the kiddies.
So that's the main thing.
You drive eight hours here butthe truck drivers will keep you
like, keep running, running,running.
But this one you have 10 hours.
Kids go to school like you wait.
What's the break time?
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Yeah, and then focusing on the kids what do the
kids bring to you when they geton the bus?
What do you see?
What do you feel?
Some of the kids.
Speaker 5 (06:41):
They'll say hi, mr Abdi.
Some of them like good morning,some of them are sleepy in the
morning, they're just all sleepy, but in the afternoon, yeah, in
the afternoon like everybody'sjumping up and down, they want
to go home and I, hey, driver,come on, we want to go home.
Like, okay, I'm taking you home, sit down please.
Okay, start.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Oh come on.
Speaker 5 (07:01):
I'm driving, I want to take you home, like sometimes
they're good, but some of themthey listen.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
What about you, Abdi?
What do the kids bring to you?
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Sometimes kids enjoy my bus, sometimes they bring it
for gift for me, so I don't know.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
What kind of gift?
Speaker 4 (07:20):
Chocolate, chocolate.
Sometimes they give me theirfruit, they give me for say
thank you for riding my bus.
I say thank you, kindness,that's sweet.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
How would you describe your relationship with
the kids?
What do they call you?
I think you mentioned they callyou Mr Abdi.
What is the personality thatthey bring?
Speaker 5 (07:48):
Also like yeah, they call you sometimes your name, mr
M, or sometimes they say, busdriver, bus driver, you're
driving them.
They'll say, okay, may I cometo you and hug you?
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Yes, how about you, abdi?
What do the kids call you andwhat is that relationship?
Speaker 4 (08:04):
They call me Mr Air.
So they have signed for the topof my bus.
They call me Mr Air, they enjoymy bus, they like me, I like
the queue, I enjoy it.
That's beautiful.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
We know that driving a school bus, one of the number
one priorities that you think ofevery day when you get behind
the wheel is safety.
What is it that you do toensure that kids are safe on the
bus?
Speaker 5 (08:32):
Yeah, in the morning, like in the morning, we have to
do every time check the bus.
So do a 30 minute bus trip sothe bus is drivable and safe to
control, brakes, everything.
So, like number one, it's yoursafety, Not even the kids, first
, it's your safety.
(08:53):
If you're safe, then the kidswill be safe.
So I have to make sureeverything is good.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
When the kids are loading and unloading, I want to
make sure they clear the roadfor no driving car.
So I want to make sure the kidssafe come in or come out from
the bus.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Right, because it's not just the kids on the bus,
it's everything.
You have to watch around thebus right, it's more traffic.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
Yeah, I'm giving last time for three car, for bus,
for eight way light.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
So you have to be so aware.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
You have children behind you on the bus, but you
have all of the traffic.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Yeah, everywhere yeah .
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Yeah, focus, that's such important care.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Yeah, so both of you have talked about the
relationship and the connectionsand the joy that the kids bring
you.
Do you have a story of that oneexperience, of that one kid
that really brightened your dayor has taught you something?
Speaker 5 (09:56):
Yeah, the kids, like some of the kids will just laugh
to play with you.
Some of them, like you know,like they don't like hey, if you
say hi, they'll say to you,okay, and they're quiet.
So, some of them, they doesn'ttalk.
Some of them, they're happy,they're friendly.
Yeah, all of them are the same.
Yeah, that's amazing.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
How about you, Abdi?
Speaker 4 (10:17):
When I take off for like one day, the kid will miss
it for me.
Say where are you, Abdi?
I'll take off one day, Say giveme a hug.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
That's so sweet.
Speaker 5 (10:30):
Sometimes, like when you call sick and you have maybe
a doctor appointment, thensomebody drives my bus and they
don't know the road where thekid stops.
So some of like one of themwill probably close their house.
I put them their door.
So the other driver no, theother driver was good, he was
helping me Like why Then theother day you come back to the
(10:53):
job they would say what happenedto you.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
It's an opportunity for our kids to learn what they
take for granted right.
When you're gone it's likewhere'd you go?
Speaker 2 (11:01):
But when you're there all the time.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
They just know you're going to keep coming back and
that's yeah, that's a greatstory.
So it sounds like an investmentin your community and in your
home is truly what bus drivingbecause, it allows you to remain
in the community.
It's a true investment in yourheart.
Speaker 5 (11:21):
Yeah, it's not even hard job, so it's not hard job,
so it's easy and it's a lovingjob yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
I understand that you brought your children to DSB to
show them to show off your bus.
So your own kids.
What was the reaction when youshowed your kids what you do in
your bus?
Speaker 5 (11:43):
Sometimes after school they go daycare.
So the daycare, like on my wayI pick up my kids, I tell them
hey, sit down.
So I want to check, like ifthey're bothering the drivers.
Now, if they're with me and Isee like one of them jumping,
hey, listen up.
Okay, I'm your driver now, notyour dad.
Okay, don't bother the drivers.
(12:04):
So please sit down, respectyour drivers.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
So it sounds like an opportunity to teach your own
kids about the value of busdrivers and the amount of work
it takes.
So, you got to teach your ownkids through the work that you
do.
It reminds me when I was ateacher.
My kids started to askquestions about their teachers.
I'm like, yeah, teachers have alife, they have kids, they have
(12:28):
a home, just like you do.
So, it gave them a differentunderstanding of exactly what
who teachers are, other than theadult that's in front of them
teaching them.
I'm thinking your kids alsohave a different perspective now
on what bus drivers are trulylike, what they look like and
the lives that they have outsideof the bus.
(13:04):
Yeah, so what I understood fromthat is that kids do understand
once you get to explain it tothem.
There are different dialects,different language, barriers.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
Sometimes I'm speaking in British English.
Hey, I don't understand whatyou're speaking.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
I don't understand.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
Sometimes I hide and I don't speak with them.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Yeah, so a renewed sense of understanding once
you're able to explain to thekids just the value and the
workload that's required.
Thank you for sharing that.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
So, as we mentioned earlier today's National School
Bus Driver Appreciation Day whatdo families typically do?
You mentioned gifts just on aregular day.
Is there anything that familiesnormally do?
It's a once a year nationalrecognition.
Do the families usually shoutyou out in some way?
Speaker 5 (13:56):
The student parents.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Yeah, the parents.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
Oh yeah, like sometimes some of them, I didn't
know like they walk in BurgerKing or somewhere.
When I go oh, this is my kid'sbus driver.
Oh, come on, they give mecookies.
Oh, that's great, they give mecookies A lot of people say hey,
hey, hey, you drive my kids.
I saw you.
I saw you.
A lot of greetings.
Before it was not like hey,nobody knows me before, but now
(14:21):
everybody knows me, like I'm aschool bus driver and I'm
driving their kids.
Sometimes they say hey, I'm aSanta, I'm a Santa.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
Yeah, so recognition.
Speaker 5 (14:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Right, you're more visible now.
Speaker 5 (14:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Because you are the bus driver, yes, and families
see you in the community.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
The family, the kids.
They respect us, they say hievery day Nice.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Ayan, I have a question for you.
You have children in thedistrict.
Were they bus riders at anytime?
Yes, okay, can you talk?
Speaker 3 (14:56):
about their experience.
Yeah, my, my daughter goes tooak hill and she would take the
bus to oak hill and that was herfavorite part was riding the
bus.
Speaker 5 (15:07):
Kindergarten, first grade, second grade third grade
because she sees a differentface of the school.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 5 (15:14):
But if you drive the van with her or like, yeah,
mommy, it's only you.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Around fourth grade.
Now she's a fifth grader.
Around fourth grade she started, but kindergarten through third
grade.
She loved riding the bus.
She would greet her bus driver.
Oh, she would bring giftsaround winter break, around
spring break and she wouldcreate these amazing cards and I
would say, well, what are youdoing, honey?
(15:40):
She'd say it's for my busdriver and she would take a bag
for her.
The bus driver was the start ofher day and it meant so much to
her and I just loved it for her.
One year, at the end of theschool year, we forgot to bring
a present for the bus driver.
Oh, she came home after school.
It was the last day of schooland she said, mom, we need to go
(16:02):
shop.
She did a little card and wetook it to the DSP.
Oh, that's so sweet.
That was her favorite part ofthe day was riding the bus and
greeting her bus driver.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
If you're missing the bus, I'll be there one day.
They don't like to ride for mycar.
They like the bus.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Yeah, what a great story.
That's a great story.
So what advice would you givesomeone and you angled it a
little bit earlier, abdullahwhat advice would you give
someone who might be interestedin being a school bus driver?
What would you have to say,yeah, out there.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
I would like to need more drivers for enjoying for
747.
Because we have a short driverright now, we need more 742.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
Yeah 742.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
So we need more drivers, so enjoy for 742.
So that's what I'm saying.
Yes, we like now more drivers.
Speaker 5 (16:57):
So enjoy for 742.
So that's what I'm saying.
Yes, we like now short drivers.
We don't have enough drivers.
So I'm telling everybodythey're very good, so come here,
it's an easy job.
You will work your 10 hours andgo home and sleep.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
What advice do you have for bus drivers who may
struggle with the children?
Our children are different.
They all come from differentbackgrounds, different stories.
Speaker 5 (17:25):
What would you tell someone who's struggling with
the kids, just take it easy.
It's just like kids.
Just treat like your kids, justlike your kids.
Kids are different, but if theyget annoyed, oh okay, sorry,
just there, like yeaheverybody's before is scary for
bus drivers.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
You don't like it, they don't like it.
But before and now.
I know I never do before busdriving, but when I come and
enjoy the driving but when Icome and enjoy the driving, I
like it, so it's different.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
It is different, isn't it?
Yeah, before when you'reoutside, when you're outside
like yeah, you say, oh, it's ascary, this kid yeah, then the
people will say how are youdriving the school bus?
How you drive the school bus.
These kids, you know thisamerican kids, this different
kids.
So you know these American kids, these different kids.
So, like I said, okay, I willtry.
Then I tried, I enjoyed it.
So people outside will look theschool bus different, like they
(18:25):
think like the school bus isbad, no, no, bad.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
That's a great message, Abdul.
I loved what you just said inSomali that the children Somali
and it's important and to yourpoint that, yes, English is the
language that majorityunderstands, but the population
(18:59):
to increase representation ofbus drivers using the Somali
dialect to reach our Somalicommunity and remind them that
this is a job.
That is great enjoyment.
The kids are just like yourkids.
The flexibility is amazing.
You get to go home to yourchildren, be a parent and also
(19:20):
invest in the community and thechildren that we all continue to
serve.
That was a great message.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
I appreciate you saying that in Somalia
especially, Thank you all forbeing here today and sharing
your stories.
This is absolutely great andhappy School Bus Appreciation
Day.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Thank you.
I say thank you, my team, mytransportation for, and
respectful Thank you.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
It's a good team over there, isn't it?
Yeah, good team.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
Office mechanic driver I say thank you, that's
wonderful.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Yeah, that's wonderful.
Yeah, that is wonderful.
And don't forget, we have agift for you today for being on
this show.
It's a CoffeeCast mug.
Okay, thank you All of you.
Also, today we're talking withschool bus driver Paul Burrus.
Well, thank you so much forbeing here today on our show
(20:20):
about dads who are bus drivers.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Yeah, thank you for inviting me.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
I'm so glad you're here and, paul, if you could
just introduce yourself a littlebit, talk about how long you've
been a bus driver in thedistrict, and obviously you're
also a dad, so you can talkabout how long you've been a bus
driver in the district, andobviously you're also a dad, so
you can talk about your kids.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Yeah, so I drive a school bus for the St Cloud
School District and started thisis about my seventh year, but
there was a gap.
So I worked for four years andthen stayed at home with my kids
for probably about 15,something like that Came back to
bus driving when I had a littletime as a para instructional
(20:58):
para in the school district, butthen decided to switch back to
bus driving, largely because Ienjoy seeing sunshine.
So being inside all day isbrutal, but having that big
windshield kind of lets the sunin, Even in the winter.
lets the sun in right Winter isanother subject, but yeah, I
like seeing the sunshine.
So yeah, just a little bitabout me, father of two children
(21:21):
.
Two daughters, one is incollege, one is a junior in high
school.
My wife is art teacher atApollo High School.
So things I do in the community.
One is I illustrate a comicbook.
It's a Christian comic bookcalled Spirit Mans.
Also, I have volunteered forabout 18 years with Youth for
Christ and we have an artistmentoring program.
(21:42):
So teenagers and adults gettogether in an art studio, make
art for about 10 weeks.
Then we have a gallery show.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
Cool, very cool.
This is just occurring to mebecause you're talking about art
.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Have you ever done any of the arts Like, do you
tutor at Paramount or anythinglike that?
I know they have a really greatrelationship with the Paramount
.
It's kind of like we dodifferent things
programmatically with studentsthan what the Paramount does.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
There's some intersection and we're, you know
, we, we like each other and soyeah, I love the Paramount, but
it's kind of like yeah, I'm I'mbusy, so I was just going to I
was just going to tie that backto bus driving is is that one of
the reasons you like being abus driver?
It sounds like it gives yousome flexibility for this
artistic side.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Yeah, I like being a bus driver really.
For many reasons it's a goodfit.
I have a knack for findingthings and driving a vehicle
around, so driving the bigvehicle doesn't really bother me
.
I do generally like children.
Sometimes they can bechallenging, which is, to be
honest, right.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
That's true for all parents right, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
And so generally I do like hanging out with kids and
you know, I've got children ofmy own and I spent 18 years
hanging out with teenagers atthe art mentoring thing.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Are your kids still in school?
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Yeah, my oldest daughter just finished first
year of college, so we got to gopick her up, and then the
youngest daughter is a junior inhigh school.
Yeah, I mean.
The other thing I like aboutbus driving is it has this gap
in the middle of the day.
Some people work all day, Ijust do am, pm, but then I get
to go home and spend a few hoursillustrating comics.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
It's a way of making your work life fit your passion.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Exactly, exactly, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
Can you describe for us?
We also talked to Abdul andAbdi.
One of the questions I askedthem was well, what's a typical
day look like?
Does that exist in the busdriving world?
What does a typical day?
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Oh yeah, my day is actually very typical in the
sense that every day is usuallythe same thing happening.
You know, I start off actuallyfirst do a pre-trip inspection
for the bus, make sure it'sworking properly, then head out
and pick up students fromMadison, and so the stop are the
same every day and you knowstudents are the same.
We say, say good morning, andthey hop on the bus.
(24:10):
We go to school and then westart picking up students for
South Kind of same thing the bus.
We go to school and then westart picking up students for
South Kind of same thing.
Drive around, see the samepeople, drive to the same place
and go have the break in themiddle of the day, do my comic
book work, come back and takethem home.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
We also talked with Abdul and Abdi about how
obviously one of the number onepriorities for a bus driver is
safety and that's top of mind.
And you talked about how youstart with an inspection.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Is that?
Do you find that the kids kindof catch on to that pretty
quickly?
Like you lay out the safetyrules at the beginning of the
year, or is that something thatjust gets reinforced day in and
day out?
Is that part of the routine?
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Yeah, it's both Kind of the way it works with kids.
You can talk to them, but arethey listening?
And so you often have to repeat.
It's good to let people knowright at the start what the
expectations are, and then itwill take some reminding.
And sometimes some peoplereally want to know the why
behind what they're doing, andso sometimes it takes a little
(25:07):
coaching to help them understandthat.
You know you need to wait tocross the street till I can
check for traffic, because youreally can't see all the way
around the bus.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Exactly, and we talked about that a little bit
too, about how it's not justtalking with kids.
You've got all the safetyconcerns outside your bus as
well.
Other drivers.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
Sometimes that can get tricky.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
Yeah, yeah, it can.
That can get tricky, yeah, yeah, it can.
And so that's really wherehaving the kids trained, so that
they're waiting at the propertimes, waiting for me to check
because a driver might not stop.
They might not be aware that,yes, they're supposed to stop,
maybe just aren't payingattention.
The students can't see aroundthe bus, and neither can other
(25:51):
drivers.
So really it's that trainingyeah yeah, it's really the
preparation and repetition overtime is very important.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Do you have any favorite stories about either
bus driving in general or abouta particular student?
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Oh boy.
Well, I had a student the otherday who goes to Madison and his
sister goes to South, and so hehad learned that his sister
rides my bus in the afternoon.
And he stopped and said Mr Busdriver, if my sister ever does
anything wrong you can tell meand I'll make sure her mom finds
(26:26):
out.
Speaker 5 (26:28):
You had a little advocate it's.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
You know, if I were, if I were thinking more quickly
I wasn't but I would haveresponded.
You know, that's funny becauseyour sister said the same thing
to me about you.
But it's nice to know I've gotmy spies out there.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
That's right.
That's right, you've got yourfan club.
That's great.
You said he called you or shecalled you, mr Bus Driver.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Do you have?
Speaker 2 (26:50):
other names I do.
I have a name tag or a card,kind of like an 8.5 by 11 sheet
of paper at the front says myname is Mr Paul Burrus.
I think that having the Mr infront helps students understand
that I am actually in a positionof authority on the bus.
It doesn't matter to menecessarily if they call me Paul
(27:11):
or.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Mr Burrus or Mr Paul.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
But, I like to encourage that, and it has a
little bit of my artwork printedout.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
So it says my name is Mr Paul Burrus.
This is my art.
Do they always ask about that?
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Sometimes Some kids do.
I find this.
You know how oblivious kids canbe.
They go through several monthsbefore they realize there's even
a bus driver, I think, and thenall of a sudden they're like
whoa, who's that?
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Yeah, when Abdul and Abdi were here was actually
Appreciation Day, National.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
School.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
Bus.
Appreciation Day and so wetalked about some of the high
fives, and they even talkedabout gifts that they received.
Speaker 4 (27:46):
Yeah, are there yeah?
Speaker 1 (27:47):
Do you have parents on your route that always pay
attention?
Speaker 2 (27:55):
There are a few, yeah , who are at the bus Right away
in the morning.
There's one student who'sperpetually running late, and so
my mom is there and she's gother two daughters waiting ready
to get on the bus, and then herson is coming down the hill and
she's always saying you know,I'm sorry he's late and I'm just
basically laughing about itbecause he's you know.
You know how kids are, right,one of them will be challenging
to get up and get around in themorning.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
So it to me that I had an image of ducklings right.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
Like, you've got the ones who are following mom and
then you've got the little one.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
Is there anything else that when you, when you
think about and I'm sorry, didyou say how many years you've
been driving?
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Oh yeah, I believe this is my seventh year.
There was, yeah, I did someprobably 15 years ago, and then
a little gap because I was astay-at-home dad and then came
back to bus driving.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
So for those seven years plus, is there anything
else that you want to share thatyou think that maybe the
listeners would be interested in?
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Oh boy, I think that the nice thing about bus driving
for me is the repetition, andyou have little moments of
interaction because a lot oftimes you're busy with the road,
you don't have a ton ofopportunity to interact with
students.
But occasionally you'll havesome fun moments, and one is,
(29:09):
you know, we're waiting for allthe students to come out.
One student comes out early.
He was telling me all about howhe worked on cars with his
grandpa and so he was reallycurious about the engine.
So I was able to open up theengine compartment and show him
the different parts, and so justlittle moments like that that
helped to build connection withkids.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
He had a natural curiosity about it.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
Yeah, and make things a little more enjoyable and you
know, sometimes things can getstressful, but it's not all that
.
There are moments of enjoymentand really a lot of just pretty
typical go about your day doingthings.
As far as what I would like tolet people know is the little
things matter, like just someonesaying thank you for waiting
(29:55):
for my son.
That actually is very, verybeneficial.
You know, the gifts are niceand they're fun, but that and
taking the time yeah, sayingthank you and just taking the
time to stop your vehicle andwait for the students I know
everybody's busy and it's hard,but just that extra 30 seconds
(30:15):
makes things go so much easier.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
That's absolute truth .
Both of those things I'mthinking about how a child who
rides the bus, you're theirfirst contact of the day and
you're the last contact of theday, so, yeah, it matters, right
.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
Yeah, it's good to get off to a right start.
Sounds good.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
Thanks a million, paul, and, by the way, I have a
present for you.
Speaking of gifts, we alwayslike to give a.
Coffeecast, mug, coffeecast,all right thank you, many thanks
, you're welcome.
Do you have a great podcastidea?
Submit your idea tocommunications at isd742.org.
(30:56):
And thank you for listening to742 CoffeeCast, the best place
to stay informed and be inspiredby St Cloud Area School
District.
The 742 CoffeeCast is your ultimate destination for
insightful conversations,thought-provoking ideas and
innovative strategies in StCloud Area School District.
Your host is Director ofCommunity Engagement and
Communications, tammy DeLand.
Grab a cup of coffee and joinus.
Good morning, hi, both of you.
(00:26):
Good morning, good morning,good morning, hi bus driver.
Good morning, good morning,good morning, good morning, good
morning, good morning, goodmorning, good morning.
Welcome to CoffeeCast.
This is our sixth episode andwe are excited to celebrate it
(00:46):
on School Bus DriverAppreciation Day with Abdi
Karshi and Abdul Abdi, two ofour District 742 bus drivers.
Also, I have a special guesthost with me today, ayaan Omar,
director of Equity Services forSt Cloud Area Schools.
So welcome to all of you andthank you for being here.
(01:08):
Ayaan, maybe you could start bytalking a little bit about your
years in the district anddescribe the different roles
you've played.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Of course.
I started in the district as apara over at Discovery, and then
I was a language arts teacherat Tech High School for about
nine years before making thetransition to the director of
equity services.
This is my third year in thisrole and I've enjoyed every
(01:37):
minute of it.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Abdi and Abdul.
Can you tell us a little bitabout your families and maybe a
little bit about your background?
Speaker 4 (01:46):
We'll start with you, abdi.
I have a wife and five children, so I have two twins, twins,
yeah, twins Two boys and twoboys and one girl.
So before I started for busdriving, I was a truck driver.
So I'm coming two years ofdriving for bus.
So I was truck driver, so I'mcoming two years of driving bus.
(02:06):
So I like this job.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Two years with us.
Yeah, two years yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
I like this job Great , so maybe next year I'm going
to start again.
So I like it.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Thank you, abdul.
Speaker 5 (02:20):
My name is Abdul Qadir Abdi.
I started this school 742December 5th 2022.
I'm a school bus driver and I'ma dad with four kids.
My kids go to Oak Hill School.
They are fourth grade andsecond grade, so I enjoy driving
for the 742.
(02:41):
So, like I used to be a truckdriver, like long journey state
to state, so right now I work inthe day shift, then nighttime I
go home sleep.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Avdi and Abdul.
I understand that you are bothformer truck drivers who
received your CDL, which iscommercial driver's license, on
the same day and began driving aschool bus for us in 2022.
And now you've become friends.
Can you share why you wanted tobecome a school bus driver?
(03:13):
Well sure.
Speaker 5 (03:14):
Like when I say school, like, say, truck driver,
truck driver needs like a lotof hustle, like state to state
all the time driving, missingyour home's kids.
So driving bus is different.
So you have your family at homedaytime anytime.
So daytime you walk with thekids and then you go with your
(03:37):
home with your kids.
So that's the difference.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Yes, the value of family time, time with your kids
.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
Yeah, I understand Time with my kids, yeah, and
just sleeping good at night.
Yes, rather than being on theroad Rather than being driving
all of the state from state tostate, then you know that and I
enjoy driving school bus.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
How about you, Abdi?
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Yeah, I'm driving like a HE I don't know-old truck
driver, so I miss my family.
When I bought the two Twins, Istopped driving truck so
enjoying the 742 bus driver.
That's why I miss my family, soI stay home.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Yeah, so after having twins, the workload became a
bit more.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
I had my wife, so they're still home.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Oh, that's good.
How long have you lived in StCloud, Abdi?
Speaker 4 (04:33):
I come to 2000.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
2000, wow.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Yeah, I'm still living here.
That's remarkable.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Yeah, wondering if and either one of you can start
on this one can you describewhat a typical day is like
driving the school bus.
What's the best part of yourday?
Speaker 5 (04:52):
So every day is a good day.
Today's raining, but you know,like the dry season is good.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
So, abdul, what would you say from the moment you
wake up to when your day ends?
What does that look like towhen your day ends.
Speaker 5 (05:03):
What does that look like?
Oh yeah, I woke up in themorning like 5.30, take shower,
then raise up, go to busstations and do the bus pre-trip
inspection, look tires, whichone is bad, which one is good.
So, like, report everything soI can drive this safe bus to the
kids and I love it.
I enjoy that.
So kids are like sometimes weare friends.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
I love my bs9, so so my kids is good you can like
talk to, like, just like yourkids.
Speaker 5 (05:34):
Some are so mean, some are so good, so you can't
say, hey, come on, let's make itanother day relationships.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Yeah, it's very important.
Yeah, how about you, abdi?
What's the best part of yourday?
Speaker 4 (05:45):
Yeah, all day is my best day, so I'm enjoying my
driving for bus.
I like my kid I'm picking upfor, so I like it.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Trucking and bus driving both require carrying
cargo, but of course our cargois very precious our family's
children.
What do you love about drivingthis precious cargo, the?
Speaker 5 (06:11):
school bus.
As I said before, it's good todrive in the daytime, enjoy your
10 hours with the kiddies.
So that's the main thing.
You drive eight hours here butthe truck drivers will keep you
like, keep running, running,running.
But this one you have 10 hours.
Kids go to school like you wait.
What's the break time?
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Yeah, and then focusing on the kids what do the
kids bring to you when they geton the bus?
What do you see?
What do you feel?
Some of the kids.
Speaker 5 (06:41):
They'll say hi, mr Abdi.
Some of them like good morning,some of them are sleepy in the
morning, they're just all sleepy, but in the afternoon, yeah, in
the afternoon like everybody'sjumping up and down, they want
to go home and I, hey, driver,come on, we want to go home.
Like, okay, I'm taking you home, sit down please.
Okay, start.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Oh come on.
Speaker 5 (07:01):
I'm driving, I want to take you home, like sometimes
they're good, but some of themthey listen.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
What about you, Abdi?
What do the kids bring to you?
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Sometimes kids enjoy my bus, sometimes they bring it
for gift for me, so I don't know.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
What kind of gift?
Speaker 4 (07:20):
Chocolate, chocolate.
Sometimes they give me theirfruit, they give me for say
thank you for riding my bus.
I say thank you, kindness,that's sweet.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
How would you describe your relationship with
the kids?
What do they call you?
I think you mentioned they callyou Mr Abdi.
What is the personality thatthey bring?
Speaker 5 (07:48):
Also like yeah, they call you sometimes your name, mr
M, or sometimes they say, busdriver, bus driver, you're
driving them.
They'll say, okay, may I cometo you and hug you?
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Yes, how about you, abdi?
What do the kids call you andwhat is that relationship?
Speaker 4 (08:04):
They call me Mr Air.
So they have signed for the topof my bus.
They call me Mr Air, they enjoymy bus, they like me, I like
the queue, I enjoy it.
That's beautiful.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
We know that driving a school bus, one of the number
one priorities that you think ofevery day when you get behind
the wheel is safety.
What is it that you do toensure that kids are safe on the
bus?
Speaker 5 (08:32):
Yeah, in the morning, like in the morning, we have to
do every time check the bus.
So do a 30 minute bus trip sothe bus is drivable and safe to
control, brakes, everything.
So, like number one, it's yoursafety, Not even the kids, first
, it's your safety.
(08:53):
If you're safe, then the kidswill be safe.
So I have to make sureeverything is good.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
When the kids are loading and unloading, I want to
make sure they clear the roadfor no driving car.
So I want to make sure the kidssafe come in or come out from
the bus.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Right, because it's not just the kids on the bus,
it's everything.
You have to watch around thebus right, it's more traffic.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
Yeah, I'm giving last time for three car, for bus,
for eight way light.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
So you have to be so aware.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
You have children behind you on the bus, but you
have all of the traffic.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Yeah, everywhere yeah .
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Yeah, focus, that's such important care.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Yeah, so both of you have talked about the
relationship and the connectionsand the joy that the kids bring
you.
Do you have a story of that oneexperience, of that one kid
that really brightened your dayor has taught you something?
Speaker 5 (09:56):
Yeah, the kids, like some of the kids will just laugh
to play with you.
Some of them, like you know,like they don't like hey, if you
say hi, they'll say to you,okay, and they're quiet.
So, some of them, they doesn'ttalk.
Some of them, they're happy,they're friendly.
Yeah, all of them are the same.
Yeah, that's amazing.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
How about you, Abdi?
Speaker 4 (10:17):
When I take off for like one day, the kid will miss
it for me.
Say where are you, Abdi?
I'll take off one day, Say giveme a hug.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
That's so sweet.
Speaker 5 (10:30):
Sometimes, like when you call sick and you have maybe
a doctor appointment, thensomebody drives my bus and they
don't know the road where thekid stops.
So some of like one of themwill probably close their house.
I put them their door.
So the other driver no, theother driver was good, he was
helping me Like why Then theother day you come back to the
(10:53):
job they would say what happenedto you.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
It's an opportunity for our kids to learn what they
take for granted right.
When you're gone it's likewhere'd you go?
Speaker 2 (11:01):
But when you're there all the time.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
They just know you're going to keep coming back and
that's yeah, that's a greatstory.
So it sounds like an investmentin your community and in your
home is truly what bus drivingbecause, it allows you to remain
in the community.
It's a true investment in yourheart.
Speaker 5 (11:21):
Yeah, it's not even hard job, so it's not hard job,
so it's easy and it's a lovingjob yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
I understand that you brought your children to DSB to
show them to show off your bus.
So your own kids.
What was the reaction when youshowed your kids what you do in
your bus?
Speaker 5 (11:43):
Sometimes after school they go daycare.
So the daycare, like on my wayI pick up my kids, I tell them
hey, sit down.
So I want to check, like ifthey're bothering the drivers.
Now, if they're with me and Isee like one of them jumping,
hey, listen up.
Okay, I'm your driver now, notyour dad.
Okay, don't bother the drivers.
(12:04):
So please sit down, respectyour drivers.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
So it sounds like an opportunity to teach your own
kids about the value of busdrivers and the amount of work
it takes.
So, you got to teach your ownkids through the work that you
do.
It reminds me when I was ateacher.
My kids started to askquestions about their teachers.
I'm like, yeah, teachers have alife, they have kids, they have
(12:28):
a home, just like you do.
So, it gave them a differentunderstanding of exactly what
who teachers are, other than theadult that's in front of them
teaching them.
I'm thinking your kids alsohave a different perspective now
on what bus drivers are trulylike, what they look like and
the lives that they have outsideof the bus.
(13:04):
Yeah, so what I understood fromthat is that kids do understand
once you get to explain it tothem.
There are different dialects,different language, barriers.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
Sometimes I'm speaking in British English.
Hey, I don't understand whatyou're speaking.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
I don't understand.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
Sometimes I hide and I don't speak with them.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Yeah, so a renewed sense of understanding once
you're able to explain to thekids just the value and the
workload that's required.
Thank you for sharing that.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
So, as we mentioned earlier today's National School
Bus Driver Appreciation Day whatdo families typically do?
You mentioned gifts just on aregular day.
Is there anything that familiesnormally do?
It's a once a year nationalrecognition.
Do the families usually shoutyou out in some way?
Speaker 5 (13:56):
The student parents.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Yeah, the parents.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
Oh yeah, like sometimes some of them, I didn't
know like they walk in BurgerKing or somewhere.
When I go oh, this is my kid'sbus driver.
Oh, come on, they give mecookies.
Oh, that's great, they give mecookies A lot of people say hey,
hey, hey, you drive my kids.
I saw you.
I saw you.
A lot of greetings.
Before it was not like hey,nobody knows me before, but now
(14:21):
everybody knows me, like I'm aschool bus driver and I'm
driving their kids.
Sometimes they say hey, I'm aSanta, I'm a Santa.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
Yeah, so recognition.
Speaker 5 (14:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Right, you're more visible now.
Speaker 5 (14:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Because you are the bus driver, yes, and families
see you in the community.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
The family, the kids.
They respect us, they say hievery day Nice.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Ayan, I have a question for you.
You have children in thedistrict.
Were they bus riders at anytime?
Yes, okay, can you talk?
Speaker 3 (14:56):
about their experience.
Yeah, my, my daughter goes tooak hill and she would take the
bus to oak hill and that was herfavorite part was riding the
bus.
Speaker 5 (15:07):
Kindergarten, first grade, second grade third grade
because she sees a differentface of the school.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 5 (15:14):
But if you drive the van with her or like, yeah,
mommy, it's only you.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Around fourth grade.
Now she's a fifth grader.
Around fourth grade she started, but kindergarten through third
grade.
She loved riding the bus.
She would greet her bus driver.
Oh, she would bring giftsaround winter break, around
spring break and she wouldcreate these amazing cards and I
would say, well, what are youdoing, honey?
(15:40):
She'd say it's for my busdriver and she would take a bag
for her.
The bus driver was the start ofher day and it meant so much to
her and I just loved it for her.
One year, at the end of theschool year, we forgot to bring
a present for the bus driver.
Oh, she came home after school.
It was the last day of schooland she said, mom, we need to go
(16:02):
shop.
She did a little card and wetook it to the DSP.
Oh, that's so sweet.
That was her favorite part ofthe day was riding the bus and
greeting her bus driver.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
If you're missing the bus, I'll be there one day.
They don't like to ride for mycar.
They like the bus.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Yeah, what a great story.
That's a great story.
So what advice would you givesomeone and you angled it a
little bit earlier, abdullahwhat advice would you give
someone who might be interestedin being a school bus driver?
What would you have to say,yeah, out there.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
I would like to need more drivers for enjoying for
747.
Because we have a short driverright now, we need more 742.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
Yeah 742.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
So we need more drivers, so enjoy for 742.
So that's what I'm saying.
Yes, we like now more drivers.
Speaker 5 (16:57):
So enjoy for 742.
So that's what I'm saying.
Yes, we like now short drivers.
We don't have enough drivers.
So I'm telling everybodythey're very good, so come here,
it's an easy job.
You will work your 10 hours andgo home and sleep.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
What advice do you have for bus drivers who may
struggle with the children?
Our children are different.
They all come from differentbackgrounds, different stories.
Speaker 5 (17:25):
What would you tell someone who's struggling with
the kids, just take it easy.
It's just like kids.
Just treat like your kids, justlike your kids.
Kids are different, but if theyget annoyed, oh okay, sorry,
just there, like yeaheverybody's before is scary for
bus drivers.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
You don't like it, they don't like it.
But before and now.
I know I never do before busdriving, but when I come and
enjoy the driving but when Icome and enjoy the driving, I
like it, so it's different.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
It is different, isn't it?
Yeah, before when you'reoutside, when you're outside
like yeah, you say, oh, it's ascary, this kid yeah, then the
people will say how are youdriving the school bus?
How you drive the school bus.
These kids, you know thisamerican kids, this different
kids.
So you know these American kids, these different kids.
So, like I said, okay, I willtry.
Then I tried, I enjoyed it.
So people outside will look theschool bus different, like they
(18:25):
think like the school bus isbad, no, no, bad.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
That's a great message, Abdul.
I loved what you just said inSomali that the children Somali
and it's important and to yourpoint that, yes, English is the
language that majorityunderstands, but the population
(18:59):
to increase representation ofbus drivers using the Somali
dialect to reach our Somalicommunity and remind them that
this is a job.
That is great enjoyment.
The kids are just like yourkids.
The flexibility is amazing.
You get to go home to yourchildren, be a parent and also
(19:20):
invest in the community and thechildren that we all continue to
serve.
That was a great message.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
I appreciate you saying that in Somalia
especially, Thank you all forbeing here today and sharing
your stories.
This is absolutely great andhappy School Bus Appreciation
Day.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Thank you.
I say thank you, my team, mytransportation for, and
respectful Thank you.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
It's a good team over there, isn't it?
Yeah, good team.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
Office mechanic driver I say thank you, that's
wonderful.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Yeah, that's wonderful.
Yeah, that is wonderful.
And don't forget, we have agift for you today for being on
this show.
It's a CoffeeCast mug.
Okay, thank you All of you.
Also, today we're talking withschool bus driver Paul Burrus.
Well, thank you so much forbeing here today on our show
(20:20):
about dads who are bus drivers.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Yeah, thank you for inviting me.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
I'm so glad you're here and, paul, if you could
just introduce yourself a littlebit, talk about how long you've
been a bus driver in thedistrict, and obviously you're
also a dad, so you can talkabout how long you've been a bus
driver in the district, andobviously you're also a dad, so
you can talk about your kids.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Yeah, so I drive a school bus for the St Cloud
School District and started thisis about my seventh year, but
there was a gap.
So I worked for four years andthen stayed at home with my kids
for probably about 15,something like that Came back to
bus driving when I had a littletime as a para instructional
(20:58):
para in the school district, butthen decided to switch back to
bus driving, largely because Ienjoy seeing sunshine.
So being inside all day isbrutal, but having that big
windshield kind of lets the sunin, Even in the winter.
lets the sun in right Winter isanother subject, but yeah, I
like seeing the sunshine.
So yeah, just a little bitabout me, father of two children
(21:21):
.
Two daughters, one is incollege, one is a junior in high
school.
My wife is art teacher atApollo High School.
So things I do in the community.
One is I illustrate a comicbook.
It's a Christian comic bookcalled Spirit Mans.
Also, I have volunteered forabout 18 years with Youth for
Christ and we have an artistmentoring program.
(21:42):
So teenagers and adults gettogether in an art studio, make
art for about 10 weeks.
Then we have a gallery show.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
Cool, very cool.
This is just occurring to mebecause you're talking about art
.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Have you ever done any of the arts Like, do you
tutor at Paramount or anythinglike that?
I know they have a really greatrelationship with the Paramount
.
It's kind of like we dodifferent things
programmatically with studentsthan what the Paramount does.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
There's some intersection and we're, you know
, we, we like each other and soyeah, I love the Paramount, but
it's kind of like yeah, I'm I'mbusy, so I was just going to I
was just going to tie that backto bus driving is is that one of
the reasons you like being abus driver?
It sounds like it gives yousome flexibility for this
artistic side.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Yeah, I like being a bus driver really.
For many reasons it's a goodfit.
I have a knack for findingthings and driving a vehicle
around, so driving the bigvehicle doesn't really bother me
.
I do generally like children.
Sometimes they can bechallenging, which is, to be
honest, right.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
That's true for all parents right, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
And so generally I do like hanging out with kids and
you know, I've got children ofmy own and I spent 18 years
hanging out with teenagers atthe art mentoring thing.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Are your kids still in school?
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Yeah, my oldest daughter just finished first
year of college, so we got to gopick her up, and then the
youngest daughter is a junior inhigh school.
Yeah, I mean.
The other thing I like aboutbus driving is it has this gap
in the middle of the day.
Some people work all day, Ijust do am, pm, but then I get
to go home and spend a few hoursillustrating comics.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
It's a way of making your work life fit your passion.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Exactly, exactly, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
Can you describe for us?
We also talked to Abdul andAbdi.
One of the questions I askedthem was well, what's a typical
day look like?
Does that exist in the busdriving world?
What does a typical day?
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Oh yeah, my day is actually very typical in the
sense that every day is usuallythe same thing happening.
You know, I start off actuallyfirst do a pre-trip inspection
for the bus, make sure it'sworking properly, then head out
and pick up students fromMadison, and so the stop are the
same every day and you knowstudents are the same.
We say, say good morning, andthey hop on the bus.
(24:10):
We go to school and then westart picking up students for
South Kind of same thing the bus.
We go to school and then westart picking up students for
South Kind of same thing.
Drive around, see the samepeople, drive to the same place
and go have the break in themiddle of the day, do my comic
book work, come back and takethem home.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
We also talked with Abdul and Abdi about how
obviously one of the number onepriorities for a bus driver is
safety and that's top of mind.
And you talked about how youstart with an inspection.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Is that?
Do you find that the kids kindof catch on to that pretty
quickly?
Like you lay out the safetyrules at the beginning of the
year, or is that something thatjust gets reinforced day in and
day out?
Is that part of the routine?
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Yeah, it's both Kind of the way it works with kids.
You can talk to them, but arethey listening?
And so you often have to repeat.
It's good to let people knowright at the start what the
expectations are, and then itwill take some reminding.
And sometimes some peoplereally want to know the why
behind what they're doing, andso sometimes it takes a little
(25:07):
coaching to help them understandthat.
You know you need to wait tocross the street till I can
check for traffic, because youreally can't see all the way
around the bus.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Exactly, and we talked about that a little bit
too, about how it's not justtalking with kids.
You've got all the safetyconcerns outside your bus as
well.
Other drivers.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
Sometimes that can get tricky.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
Yeah, yeah, it can.
That can get tricky, yeah, yeah, it can.
And so that's really wherehaving the kids trained, so that
they're waiting at the propertimes, waiting for me to check
because a driver might not stop.
They might not be aware that,yes, they're supposed to stop,
maybe just aren't payingattention.
The students can't see aroundthe bus, and neither can other
(25:51):
drivers.
So really it's that trainingyeah yeah, it's really the
preparation and repetition overtime is very important.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Do you have any favorite stories about either
bus driving in general or abouta particular student?
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Oh boy.
Well, I had a student the otherday who goes to Madison and his
sister goes to South, and so hehad learned that his sister
rides my bus in the afternoon.
And he stopped and said Mr Busdriver, if my sister ever does
anything wrong you can tell meand I'll make sure her mom finds
(26:26):
out.
Speaker 5 (26:28):
You had a little advocate it's.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
You know, if I were, if I were thinking more quickly
I wasn't but I would haveresponded.
You know, that's funny becauseyour sister said the same thing
to me about you.
But it's nice to know I've gotmy spies out there.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
That's right.
That's right, you've got yourfan club.
That's great.
You said he called you or shecalled you, mr Bus Driver.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Do you have?
Speaker 2 (26:50):
other names I do.
I have a name tag or a card,kind of like an 8.5 by 11 sheet
of paper at the front says myname is Mr Paul Burrus.
I think that having the Mr infront helps students understand
that I am actually in a positionof authority on the bus.
It doesn't matter to menecessarily if they call me Paul
(27:11):
or.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Mr Burrus or Mr Paul.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
But, I like to encourage that, and it has a
little bit of my artwork printedout.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
So it says my name is Mr Paul Burrus.
This is my art.
Do they always ask about that?
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Sometimes Some kids do.
I find this.
You know how oblivious kids canbe.
They go through several monthsbefore they realize there's even
a bus driver, I think, and thenall of a sudden they're like
whoa, who's that?
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Yeah, when Abdul and Abdi were here was actually
Appreciation Day, National.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
School.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
Bus.
Appreciation Day and so wetalked about some of the high
fives, and they even talkedabout gifts that they received.
Speaker 4 (27:46):
Yeah, are there yeah?
Speaker 1 (27:47):
Do you have parents on your route that always pay
attention?
Speaker 2 (27:55):
There are a few, yeah , who are at the bus Right away
in the morning.
There's one student who'sperpetually running late, and so
my mom is there and she's gother two daughters waiting ready
to get on the bus, and then herson is coming down the hill and
she's always saying you know,I'm sorry he's late and I'm just
basically laughing about itbecause he's you know.
You know how kids are, right,one of them will be challenging
to get up and get around in themorning.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
So it to me that I had an image of ducklings right.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
Like, you've got the ones who are following mom and
then you've got the little one.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
Is there anything else that when you, when you
think about and I'm sorry, didyou say how many years you've
been driving?
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Oh yeah, I believe this is my seventh year.
There was, yeah, I did someprobably 15 years ago, and then
a little gap because I was astay-at-home dad and then came
back to bus driving.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
So for those seven years plus, is there anything
else that you want to share thatyou think that maybe the
listeners would be interested in?
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Oh boy, I think that the nice thing about bus driving
for me is the repetition, andyou have little moments of
interaction because a lot oftimes you're busy with the road,
you don't have a ton ofopportunity to interact with
students.
But occasionally you'll havesome fun moments, and one is,
(29:09):
you know, we're waiting for allthe students to come out.
One student comes out early.
He was telling me all about howhe worked on cars with his
grandpa and so he was reallycurious about the engine.
So I was able to open up theengine compartment and show him
the different parts, and so justlittle moments like that that
helped to build connection withkids.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
He had a natural curiosity about it.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
Yeah, and make things a little more enjoyable and you
know, sometimes things can getstressful, but it's not all that
.
There are moments of enjoymentand really a lot of just pretty
typical go about your day doingthings.
As far as what I would like tolet people know is the little
things matter, like just someonesaying thank you for waiting
(29:55):
for my son.
That actually is very, verybeneficial.
You know, the gifts are niceand they're fun, but that and
taking the time yeah, sayingthank you and just taking the
time to stop your vehicle andwait for the students I know
everybody's busy and it's hard,but just that extra 30 seconds
(30:15):
makes things go so much easier.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
That's absolute truth .
Both of those things I'mthinking about how a child who
rides the bus, you're theirfirst contact of the day and
you're the last contact of theday, so, yeah, it matters, right
.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
Yeah, it's good to get off to a right start.
Sounds good.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
Thanks a million, paul, and, by the way, I have a
present for you.
Speaking of gifts, we alwayslike to give a.
Coffeecast, mug, coffeecast,all right thank you, many thanks
, you're welcome.
Do you have a great podcastidea?
Submit your idea tocommunications at isd742.org.
(30:56):
And thank you for listening to742 CoffeeCast, the best place
to stay informed and be inspiredby St Cloud Area School
District.
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