Blythe Drake and Mike Counterman are two very well known Fair Grove R-X School District bus drivers. Drake has been driving the bus for seven years and Counterman has been driving the bus for six years.
Drake explained that becoming a bus driver is a process that has many hoops to jump through. First, the future drivers must complete ELDT, Entry Level Driver Training. Once the training is completed, the drivers must then go to the Missouri DMV and take three electronic tests: the first for Class B CDL (Commercial Drivers License), the second for Passenger Endorsement, and the third is for School Bus Endorsement. This process alone only earns a permit, which has to be held for 14 days before the drivers are allowed to go to a CDL testing site for the license.
In these 14 days, the drivers are taught how to look at the bonus prior and post taking students to and from school, ensuring the bus is in quality condition to harbor students. Once these steps have been completed, the drivers are permitted to go to a Missouri Highway Patrol CDL Testing Site to complete the test for the full license.
Drake stated, “It is our responsibility as a school bus driver to haul the world’s most precious cargo to and from school each and every day.”
One of Counterman’s jobs is to drive the bus for Fair Grove, as well as taking care of the school lawns and outdoor fields. Counterman said that his favorite part of being a bus driver is watching the kids grow up and growing a relationship with them.
Not all students that attend Fair Grove have other options than the bus to get to and from school. Drake noted that the importance of bus drivers is to not only help with this, but also to provide a secure space of transportation. Drake said, “We provide a safe environment so our students are able to get to and from school safely. This allows students a way to get to and from school when they don’t have another option.”
Counterman and Drake are both proud to help out in the Fair Grove community wherever they can. Counterman voiced, “I do what I do for the love of our school and community. This is where I grew up and graduated from. I love giving back. Always proud to be an Eagle!”
