The AHS transportation system

The+fleet+of+AHS+school+busses%2C+waiting+to+pick+up+students+after+school.

Photo by Lily Citron

The fleet of AHS school busses, waiting to pick up students after school.

The Aspen School District transportation department has 18 routes to and from school, and also provides transportation for sports games and field trips. The department supplies safe and convenient rides for a countless amount of students daily.

The transportation system is an undeniably important part of our school district’s functionality. Transportation officials are tasked with ensuring the happiness of both bus drivers and students alike. Reagan Mahaffey has been working as the Assistant Transportation Director for three years. Prior to her current position, she was a driver herself. As the Assistant Director, she does a lot behind the scenes to keep the department up and running.

“I essentially schedule all trips, and I schedule the vehicles for the drivers. I also make sure that trips can actually go out. I do all the training for our drivers, so whether they come in and want to be a school bus driver and do their CDL training or if its a community member that needs to drive a small vehicle for Ex Ed or sports\; if it’s going to be in a minibus or suburban I do all the training for that as well.” Mahaffey said.

Mahaffey is also responsible for making sure that the needs of the drivers are constantly being thought of. That means if students are behaving poorly on the bus, it becomes her responsibility.

“Typically speaking, if a driver is having issues with students aboard the bus, we do like to be informed about that pretty immediately. Whether it’s something they can handle on their own or if its an issue we think we need to involve the principal and administration at the building.” Mahaffey said.

Even with the occasional challenge of a rowdy student, when asked about the job, bus driver Jim Brokamp only had positive things to say.

“I would say my favorite part is working with young people, and I have a bus full of kids. So I would say the kids are what I like about the job the most, and I also like the seasonal schedule,” Brokamp said.“I get off nine weeks of the year, and every year is a new year. The kids get older. I don’t really dislike anything about the job. The school district treats us really well.”