Members of the Hays CISD Transportation Department have pulled in a big haul of trophies over the past year, including the latest, a third place in national competition in the “Special Education Bus” competition. Proudly displaying some of their trophy haul are award winners (back, left to right) Kaye Cavazos, Edith Fairchild, Training Safety Coordinator Kay Raney; (front, left to right) Ragenia Smith, George Sheely. (Photo by Jim Cullen)
by JIM CULLEN
The Hays CISD Transportation Department is responsible for safely delivering thousands of the district’s students to school and returning them to their homes every day of the school year. It’s an incredibly important job too often overlooked, but it is not a job taken lightly by those involved. In fact, a number of HCISD transportation workers take the time to hone their skills for competition.
Among those doing so—for the annual School Bus Safety Roadeo competition—are a select group of individuals who’ve earned recognition for the department including, most recently, at the national level.
For the current school year, the team of George Sheely and Edith Fairchild were pitted against 19 other two-person teams in the Special Education Competition category of Roadeo and the pair emerged with a third place showing. The pair was edged out only by a Michigan team and Cypress-Fairbanks from Texas. Keep in mind, that’s in the nation. Earlier, Sheely had teamed with Jamie Holley for a first (among 19 competing) at regionals and a second (among 22) at state.
In Conventional Competition, Kaye Cavazos took an individual first at regionals, qualifying for state, but topped out at that level. Fairchild and Ragenia Smith ended up in a third place tie at regionals, also qualifying for state, and Fairchild took a sixth at that level.
High level showings in Roadeo competition go back to the 2006-2007 school year when Sharon Richey and Robyn Booton took a regional third in Special Education. The next school year Richey and Booton improved to a regional first in Special Education competition to again advance to state. That same year, Sandy Martell and Alaina Patton placed third in Special Education for another state berth and Edith Fairchild advanced with a regional first.
For 2008-2009, Martell and Booton teamed for second at Special Education regionals, then took a first at state and advanced to nationals. Kaye Cavazos placed first in regionals in Conventional Competition for a state berth.
Complementing the growing list of accomplishments for the department is the fact that local competitors are showing up as winners in the written tests at regional competition. The department has taken first in each of the last two years.
In Special Education Competition, participants take a Special Ed General Knowledge test and complete a written essay. They are then judged on the following categories: Pre-Trip, Wheel Chair Loading, Secure Wheel Chair, Secure Car Seat, Emergency Event Evacuation and Managing Challenging Student Behavior. Conventional Competition includes a General Knowledge test and one on Vehicle Inspection. Driving events include Offset Alley, Railroad Crosswing, Straight Line, Diminishing Clearance, Back Up Alley, Right Turn, Parallel Park, Student Load, Curb Line and Stop Line.
