The Drivers Behind the Wheel

Fair Grove’s bus drivers do a lot for the school including driving students to and from school and even helping out when Fair Grove Schools go on field trips.

For some of the bus drivers, being a bus driver is a job to just fill time. Larry Smith drives Route #5 and he said, “I wanted to find a part time job when I retired.” Smith expressed that he thinks being a bus driver is a good fit for his after-retirement job. 

School bus drivers have to have a Class B CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) with a Passenger and School Bus Endorsements, and a medical Physical. The State of Missouri also requires school bus drivers to have a minimum of 8 hours of training per year. Fair Grove’s Transportation Director and bus driver, Don Brite, said, “Here at FGS we get 21 hours of training per year.” This extra training ensures that Fair Grove’s bus drivers are up to date on everything safety related.

Brite has been working for Fair Grove schools since 2002. When he first came to Fair Grove he started as building maintenance. “Shortly after I started the Superintendent asked if I could help and drive a bus,” explained Brite. He added, “I wanted to be a team player and I thought I would enjoy it, so I started training.” Brite then became a bus driver and has been ever since. 

Bus drivers also help drive the buses on school field trips. Smith said that he quite likes being able to drive the bus on field trips. As far as his normal routine route goes, he explained, “My route runs east of Fair Grove ending at the line between Fair Grove and Marshfield.” Smith said that he likes his route and also added, “As far as driving for Fair Grove I enjoy my kids on my route.”

Brite expressed why he enjoys being a bus driver, “I enjoy talking with all the students and getting to know them.” He also said that since he has worked for Fair Grove as a bus driver for so long, he is even driving some students that he drove the parents of. 

Damon Seiger, Fair Grove High School’s assistant principal and athletic director, said that the school’s bus drivers are a big part of the school and a big help. Seiger elaborated, “They ensure the safety and well being of our students in transport and we are grateful for the work in which they do.”

Fair Grove’s bus drivers do a lot for the school and always take care of and help with guaranteeing the safety of the students they drive.