By: Benjamin Rickert, BCS Communications
The meals on the bus go 'round and 'round Buncombe County thanks to the tireless work and vital skillset of BCS Transportation mechanics and staff.
A fleet of 55 yellow public school buses traveled to every corner of Buncombe County today, filled with healthy meals for students as our community navigates the COVID-19 crisis. Silently keeping these buses safely on task are 28 workers in the Buncombe County Schools transportation garage, whose expertise and grit make the meal service possible.
“We’re keeping those buses fueled, repaired, cleaned, and inspected,” said David Rhoney, BCS Transportation Director. “It’s a group effort and our staff are doing a great job of making sure kids get fed — which is the most important task we have.”
Each day, Rhoney’s mechanics perform needed maintenance and inspections on several buses, which are then sanitized before returning to schools and meal sites. The team also operates two fuel trucks that strategically traverse the county, refueling every bus in use over a period of five days, keeping them in action until their next inspection. Each day that buses are away from the garage, they are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized by staff from the BCS Maintenance Dept.
Rhoney said his workers are motivated, knowing their efforts make it possible to feed students. During the first week of the historic school closure for students due to the coronavirus, Buncombe County Schools
served over 50,000 meals.
“We know it is essential to keep those buses safe, clean, and moving,” Rhoney added. “We’re working to make it as easy as possible for drivers and Nutrition staff to do their jobs.”
During the school year, the Transportation Dept. provides daily bus service to over 13,000 students using 262 yellow buses and 45 white activity buses. In Buncombe County, school buses drive nearly 16,000 total miles each day.