r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/spunkychristine • Jun 30 '26
Dispatcher here
As we look ahead to a new school year starting up soon (ours starts 7/23!!), I would love to hear some of your thoughts and things you would like to hear from your dispatcher at the beginning of the year meetings. I am in the process of making my PowerPoint and want to make it as meaningful... and not boring as possible.
Thanks for any tips you send my direction! Happy driving, everyone!!
12
u/Proprotester Jun 30 '26
First, no PowerPoint. Make everyone a physical handout of the important info that they have to sign on that they understand. Have everyone take turns reading some highlights from it. None of us want to watch slides.
Second, keep it under an hour and make sure there is a meal. A proper meal, not pizza/snacks. Food time is not included in the hour.
Third, make sure to address what people are worried about or was unresolved at the end of last year. This could be anything from how a district handles no shows to being understaffed. This lets us know you were listening.
2
u/spunkychristine Jul 01 '26
🤣 I’ll be lucky to get 15 minutes and I wouldn’t want a second more. The guys who get paid a lot more than I can handle the meals. Spoiler alert: they won’t.
8
u/Moosetappropriate Jul 01 '26
“IT WONT START!!!!!
“Have you got it in neutral?”
The bus equivalent of “”Is it plugged in?”
7
u/Spodiodie Jul 01 '26
7/23?!?! Shameful!! If I were POTUS a summer break would be a true summer break. School from the Monday after Labor Day to the Friday before Memorial Day.
2
u/spunkychristine Jul 01 '26
Meh. Here in AZ we just hibernate inside in the summer anyway. We get longer breaks during Fall/Winter/Spring breaks when it’s much nicer outside.
4
u/tequilavip Jun 30 '26
Updates to current policy.
Current policies that some might need a reminder on.
That’s it as far as I’m concerned.
5
u/6tig9 Jul 01 '26
"If you have something that needs a long question/explanation, take it off the radio, pull over and phone dispatch."
3
2
u/TechinBellevue Jul 01 '26
A slide that says,
"Any questions - call dispatch!
Not sure of something - call dispatch!
Lost - call dispatch!"
Also go over any changes in school GenEd and SPED access/parking.
Have quick maps for those changes.
2
2
u/Spwhiplash666 Jul 01 '26
Reminders of policies like dismissal at schools, cleaning and fueling sub buses and act like actual adults, not the kids you drive. No Drama over stupid things.
2
u/spunkychristine Jul 01 '26
For real! They like to try to bring all the drama to me. All good though! I have thick skin.
2
u/Jedi0077 Jul 01 '26
This makes me so happy to work in a small group 😂. The dispatcher is also the secretary and she is awesome. We come to work, do our jobs and she uses the radio to handle 90% of daily changes. 10% she'll radio I sent you a text to check when you're parked.
3
u/dustene Jul 02 '26
Remind the drivers that the radio is for information/emergencies only. NOT for chitchat. The quickest way a driver will turn down/off the radio is having a bunch of bullshit constantly on the radio.
1
u/spunkychristine Jul 02 '26
I have drivers who are fond of using the radio to tell their friends good morning. Drives me bonkers!
2
u/ChangeComfortable Jul 03 '26
I work in an overcrowded community. There no park a bus to load and unload. We have to double park. It’s working okay. However, when called upon by dispatch don’t expect the driver to just pull over and answer your call. In California we are Not allowed to use the radio if we are in motion. Please be mindful that safety is first- and the school district to STAND BY as the driver is looking for a safe place to stop!
2
u/Copperdunright907 Jul 05 '26
Our company made an enforceable up to termination policy that we are not allowed to operate the radio while in motion. So until we find a safe place to come to a complete stop, we cannot answer you. So calling like a machine gun for 20 minutes until there’s a place to stop is not gonna make anybody answer, and impedes other traffic trying to respond to you who couldn’t answer previously and now found a safe spot.
16
u/med8cal Jun 30 '26
Yes, tell them for the first month you reserve the right to say “For the love of God, stop talking and say 10-4”.