Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1958-02-13
Continued from Page One
Big Yellow Buses
Plotted by Many


If approved by the County Council it will amount
to 10 percent increase over their present rate.
The base scale depends on the hours per day
which range from three to eight For threehour
day. the scale is $1,000 to $1625 in six years The
maximum eighthour day. which affects few
drivers, is $1,000 to $3.50 also in six steps
Since even the maximum is below living
wage with today's high prices, how then do bus
drivers exist?
Out Of the 154, 62 are women most of whom
are married housewives using this part-time job
to supplement their husbands incomes. The men
work at odd jobs or gas stations or evening jobs
of all sorts. A few are farmers or storeowners
seeking additional income
The 1858 So Recommendation from the
school board will solve another problem affecting
many of the drivers. If the council approves the
20 additional buses and 20 more drivers for next
year, the early runs which deliver the children at
school as early as 7:45 Am. will be eliminated.
Normally driver is expected to have his bus
ready to go by 7:30 AM and usually ends his
last run at 9:15. Depending on the length of his
route he has one to four runs. carrying 40 TO $50
children. The afternoon schedules run from 2:30
to 4:30 PM.
The shorter runs are usually in the down
county area. The longest route in the county is
Is miles. one way, taking Negro children from
Damascus to Longview Elementary.
In addition to their regular runs, the drivers
have to attend three safety meetings a year, one
briefing meeting before the opening of school,
take their bus three times year for inspection
by the office staff and the state Inspector and
average twice month visits to specified garage
for repairs and maintenance. This last varies
considerably depending on the age of the bus
and the temperament of the driver.
With all this, the director of transportation
for the board Of education, young Dick Ream who
himself started as bus driver ii years ago, is
proud TO state he knows of no other group of
service workers who show as much concern for
other peoples children as do his bus drivers.
Ream also points with pride to Montgomerys
school bus drivers outstanding safety record.
Last year total of 1909 1874 miles were driven
with only eight chargeable accidents, all minor
with no personal injuries
Also remarkable are Reams statistics on
drivers earning safety awards. There are 81
drivers with one-year awards; 20, two-year; II,
three.year; IL four-year; g. fiveyear II, sx-year;
2, seven-year; g. eightyear; d. nine-year; 2, 10
year; l. 11year; and out of last years 149 drivers
seven had driven IL years without having an acct
dent.
Since safety records were not kept before
Ream took over the transportation department
six years ago, he has no way of checking how
many of his longtime drivers beat the 12-year
record but undoubtedly number do
Oldest in time of employment are Charles
kohlhosS, Poolesville driver % years; Joe Haw
kns, Carver High, 81 years; Jack Hit, Gathers
burg 10 years; and Mrs Louis Miller, Silver
Spring and Mrs. Catherine Mills, Rockville. both
with Is years.
In anyone has doubts about his woman
drivers, Ream carefully pointed out that Mrs.
Mills Is of the drivers with q 12-year un.
spoiled record.
Ream also pointed out that this excellent
safety record saves the county money in insur-
ance premiums. Brian Benson comptroller,
reported that due to our safety record, we are
paying less for insurance now than four years
ago in spite of the large increase in coverage
and transportation.
Benson also reported that one-third of the
requested $4,000 for transportation next year
will be reimbursed by the state under the equaliza.
ton plan.
No picture OF the public schools bus system
would be complete without account of the
trials and tribulations of Dick Ream and his
office staff which includes two area supervisors
and one assistant
II the transportation office had no phone, life
would be lot less hectic for Ream and his boys
Faced with the task some mornings of replac.
ing Is sick drivers at once the staff is suddenly
swamped with calls from complaining mammas
who want TO know why their chidren's bus is late.
It's one of the toughest public relations jobs
he knows says Ream who appears to be able to
take 1t In stride.
When hard pressed as during the Asiatic