HOPEWELL, Va. (WTVR) – You know the name of your child’s teacher. You may know the name of your child’s bus driver. But do you have any idea who your child’s school bus technician is? No?
That’s exactly why the America’s Best School Bus Technicians contest was created.
“We started this contest to recognize school bus technicians and inspectors because they are an integral part of the pupil transportation system,” Michael Bullman, Director of Maintenance at South Carolina Department of Education, said. “An education begins with a bus ride.”
Hopewell school bus technician Bill Alsko was named one of the country’s top school bus technicians at the recently completed America’s Best School Bus Technician Competition in Seattle. Alsko, who has worked for Hopewell Schools for 12 years, finished in third place.
As part of the competition, Alsko took a written test and completed six bus technician stations that included multiplex wiring, brakes, lubrication and wheel end groups.
Scores were given based on how well the technician answered questions and performed at each station, Bullman said.
Alsko traveled to the national competition after he was named the top school bus technician in Virginia.
“We like to shine the spotlight on these important people,” Bullman said. “We hope the result is safer buses, nationwide.”
Alsko did not have much time to savor the third place finish.
He is one of just two school bus technicians tasked with making sure Hopewell’s 36 school buses are running safely.
