(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School District’s Board of Directors heard from District Transportation Director Mark Weis, during a Work Session, Wednesday evening. Weis spent a portion of his report on “The Heart of the Transportation Department,” those who work in the department. He says their licensure is one of the most important aspects of the department. That list includes everyone from the mechanics and secretaries, to route drivers.

Most of the Department’s personnel hold regular jobs, yet they still make time to drive routes. Retired drivers also play a role in getting students and staff to where they need to go. In addition to bus drivers, there are personnel who hold a Class-D Chauffeur’s License to drive cars and vans in the district’s fleet. He was asked about turnover in the department.

Weis said his department is currently understaffed, but that’s where substitutes help take up some of the slack and fill-in when necessary.

He says they make it work the best they can.They have enough vehicles, just not enough people to drive them, which is the case in a lot of school districts. Mark Weis said with regard to the vehicles, a State Inspector will inspect the fleet next week, with the exception of Bus 10.

ACSD Transportation Director Mark Weis (Snapshot from Zoom session)

Weis told the Board they’ve made a lot of improvementss to the bus garage (Bus “Barn”), including the addition of a tool to help control the amount of rust the buses have.

The Atlantic School Board also heard a lengthy presentation from Schuler Principal James Northwick, Middle School Principal Scot Aden, Middle School Counselor Angela Sieh, and others, with regard to social and emotional learning support in the district.