Feb. 28 is Minnesota’s second annual School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – In darkness and daylight, on dirt roads and multi-lane highways, from warm spring days to frigid winters, Minnesota school bus drivers safely transport more than 760,000 students to and from school each day.
To recognize this important profession, Governor Mark Dayton has proclaimed Feb. 28 as School Bus Driver Appreciation Day in Minnesota. School districts across Minnesota will celebrate the second annual School Bus Appreciation Day by passing out student-made thank you cards and providing food and beverages to bus drivers.
The Minnesota School Bus Operators Association (MSBOA) and Minnesota Association of Pupil Transportation (MAPT) teamed up to create School Bus Driver Appreciation Day in Minnesota as a way to encourage school leaders, parents, and students to celebrate the often overlooked profession.
“School bus drivers transport parents’ most precious cargo – their children – day in and day out, and they do this job humbly and with great pride,” said MSBOA President Josh Schiffler. “We are thankful that Governor Dayton has again declared Feb. 28 School Bus Driver Appreciation Day in Minnesota so that we can give these humble heroes the recognition they deserve.”
Exceptional school bus drivers from around the state will be recognized at a press conference in Golden Valley on Feb. 28.
“When parents put their children on a school bus in the morning, they expect them to come home at the end of the day,” said Lt. Tiffani Nielson, Minnesota State Patrol. “Bus drivers are dedicated to keeping our children safe, making it possible for parents to know their children are in good hands when they travel between home and school each day.”
Additional reasons to celebrate School Bus Driver Appreciation Day include the impact that school buses have on student safety and the environment. Thanks to rigorous safety standards for vehicles and drivers, as well as student training efforts students are nearly eight times safer riding to and from school in a school bus than in a vehicle.,. The school bus driving industry is the largest form of mass transit in Minnesota, and it has reduced its environmental impact through the use of alternative fuels and retrofits on diesel engines.
“School bus drivers are among the most highly-trained drivers on the road, and they have the ever-important job of protecting children,” said MAPT President Derrick Agate Sr. “We hope that Minnesotans help us recognize school bus drivers in their communities on Feb. 28, and that more people consider this important and in-demand profession.”
About the Minnesota School Bus Operators Association
The Minnesota School Bus Operators Association (MSBOA) represents Minnesota’s privately owned school bus contractors who provide more than 60 percent of the school buses used to transport Minnesota children to and from school and school-related activities. Its members represent an average of more than 45 years of experience in the industry and are responsible for more than 400,000 students transported 233,000 miles per day.
About the Minnesota Association for Pupil Transportation
Founded in 1975, the Minnesota Association for Pupil Transportation (MAPT) is a nonprofit association of school transportation professionals and industry leaders who promote safe and efficient student transportation within the state of Minnesota. MAPT encourages active participation by anyone interested in the safe and efficient transportation of Minnesota students and is a resource for all school districts throughout Minnesota.
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