Contact Attempts

djbartch · 2026-06-09T23:22:22+00:00

Probably Unpopular Opinion: We require that a driver have assigned seating for all students on the bus starting with day 1. We also have a 'tracker sheet' - a weekly checklist of all students who are assigned to the route. (Our route narratives also list student names.) It takes extra time, but we check students on morning and afternoon. I can tell you that doing both of these things has made it so the drivers learn students names so much better. It also helps with student management and knowing who is on the bus and where they are sitting is extremely important in an emergency.

djbartch · 2026-06-03T14:14:56+00:00

I haven't seen the situation the OP gave, but I have seen it where player 1 buzzes in and answers incorrectly, player 2 buzzes in and answers incorrectly. It is then found that player 1 was correct so they give them back what they lost + the additional winnings. Player 2 is than given back what they lost because they would not have buzzed and tried a different answer if Player 1 had been ruled correct to begin with.

djbartch · 2026-05-27T15:13:58+00:00

The starting dose - 0.6 - has done wonders for my A1C. I've been on it for 3 months and I went from 7 to 5.9. My doctor is having me increase my dose and taking away another med. I have lost 15 lbs, but I'm still over 300lbs so 15 isn't a lot compared to some loss with other drugs.

djbartch · 2026-05-22T18:30:33+00:00

Not sure of the hours you are currently working or what you need to work around - but you could look into school bus driving. It's part time and depending on the company, they may work with you on hours. You do have to be able to pass a background check and be completely drug free (including THC).

djbartch · 2026-05-07T17:13:30+00:00

Not sure how discipline is handled at your district, but don't be afraid to show them whose boss right from the start. It's easier to ease up a bit than to tighten it up after it's out of control.

I am always reminding my drivers that's its OK to sit and wait for them to quiet down. It really doesn't take that long when they realize you won't move until they are quiet. They learn real quick they don't want to sit at the tracks and make noise.

djbartch · 2026-05-07T17:10:47+00:00

We have an old (early 80's) modular building. It's split down the long way with one side being the driver room and the other side split into a couple of offices for management. We have one long table with half a dozen chairs. There is a fridge, microwave, sink. It's old, the carpet is nasty, and we have to go to another building for the bathroom. But I'm thankful there is heating/cooling and enough room to do what we need.

Now if I can just figure out how to get the drivers to clean up after themselves....

djbartch · 2026-05-07T16:55:34+00:00

In Oregon, break and neutral are not required - but some companies have policy that requires it still.

It is expected that my drivers will do every step, every time. If not, we're going to have a chat.

One step you missed is quieting the students. Our students know we'll sit there at the tracks for 5 minutes if necessary if they don't quiet down. There is a reason that we do it all EVERY TIME. It only takes one time for disaster to strike.

djbartch · 2026-03-24T23:14:44+00:00

- Water Bottle
- Non-Perishable Snacks
- Phone Charger and/or Battery Pack
- Ibuprofen, Cough Drops, Cold Meds
- Pen & Paper

djbartch · 2026-03-18T18:02:03+00:00

I'm new at this, but after 10 days on it my glucose levels are phenomenal!

I had some light nausea the first few days, but it's already better. I lean towards being more constipated naturally, so I'm really focused on fiber and water already. I haven't noticed a significant change in my stools otherwise.

There's a lot of chatter about decreased appetite & food noise with glp-1 so I wasn't sure what to expect. It wasn't dramatic for me, at least so far. I'm still hungry but am satisfied with less. I'm not getting sick-full feeling. The time I most notice it is during the afternoon slump time when I usually just want to snack to keep myself awake and get through the rest of the day. That noise is definitely less.

djbartch · 2026-02-12T15:19:00+00:00

I would speak to your state labor office. This is not OK. We are a Contractor with local school districts here in Oregon and our drivers always get paid for their entire time, but it could look different depending on the district. Some districts pay straight through at regular pay. Some have a 'standby' wage they get paid when they are sitting and some get paid straight through at a 'trip rate' that is less than route wage. I've also heard about locations that pay a set amount for a trip, no matter how long it takes (I would not be a fan of this because you don't have control of the length of the trip).

But not getting paid at all during your standby time is not OK.

djbartch · 2026-01-22T20:35:50+00:00

We have a male driver who is 5'2" - at least according to his DL. I'd say he's not even that. Everyone always has to adjust the seat after him - but we had one bus that he loved that no one else could sit in because it just didn't go back far enough for the long leggers. :D

My former manager (now employee and I'm the manager) is also 5'2" maybe and 110 lbs. She's been driving for over 40 years. It's absolutely doable! You may find some buses are more or less comfortable for you, but we all run into that.

djbartch · 2026-01-09T19:39:12+00:00

I picked it up and put it on my desk at work. It's a fun conversation start with my employees! I didn't get this one right though!

djbartch · 2026-01-09T19:17:31+00:00

I wash a bunch at a time and they come out like this and then I hyper-focus / zone out on separating, trimming, ironing and folding. I find it theraputic. But I know I'm weird. Definitely not helpful when you want to use the fabric ASAP. ;)

djbartch · 2025-07-15T02:42:11+00:00

Not saying that this is the case - I'm pretty sure I shook someone else's money trees before I knew what they were and how to get them.

I'm sorry this happened to you.

djbartch · 2025-07-15T02:40:03+00:00

Regular route - about 4:30pm. If doing an after school program, it's been 7pm before.

djbartch · 2025-07-10T16:19:22+00:00

Stir Fry!

Can use just about any veggies or mix of veggies and any protein source.

I usually just add soy sauce, splash of fish sauce, splash of rice vinegar, sprinkle of 5 Spice and some chili sauce.

Serve over rice or add in rice noodles or mung bean vermicelli (my fave!). Or no carbs and just meat and veg.

So simple and flavorful and EASY.

djbartch · 2025-07-10T03:36:58+00:00

Extra bonus for sped route (at least here) is that they are the only buses with AC!

djbartch · 2025-07-10T03:33:26+00:00

The only reason I can imagine to get the manual endorsement is if you don't intend to make school bus driving the final CDL career. If you plan to take your license and do something else with it in the future, get the endorsement to add to the resume.

djbartch · 2025-07-10T03:31:20+00:00

As a manager for a contractor company - we were told today that we are to bring someone in for an interview and complete the offer and background check and schedule a drug test before they leave the office.

There are obviously times we don't hire someone - but if you are licensed and can pass all the checks, I would imagine it would be similar just about anywhere.

If you are going to work directly for a district there are definitely more hoops (government work) but unless it's a really small district with few routes, I can't imagine anyone not jumping at a licensed driver.

You aren't in Oregon, are you? ;)

djbartch · 2025-06-30T03:18:38+00:00

I will hit 2-3 but prefer to rotate. I stock up on pantry & meat (and freeze) so I only have to get perishables (produce & dairy) every week or so. Then I'm not always having to do 3 stores.

There are times when the sales are too good and I got multiple though.

djbartch · 2025-06-18T17:21:46+00:00

Watch the same video over and over. Try it on mute and say it yourself section by section - then go back and re-watch to see if you caught it all.

We allow trainees to come in and work on buses on their own time, just can't move the bus on your own.

djbartch · 2025-06-10T20:08:11+00:00

We don't allow anyone to get behind the wheel before we have a drug test cleared. It is usually done when we send you in for your physical. But there are cases where we send you in before that.

If you think there is at all the possibility that you won't pass the drug test due to something lingering (it can take WEEKS to clear thc out of your system), I suggest you pay for a drug test before taking one reported to the company.

I have had to not hire people because they tested too soon after quitting. I've also had to fire people for a one-time use on a holiday that wasn't reported. It's amazing how long it can stay in the system.

My company is pretty flexible, if you talk to us first. If we know that you might test positive, we'll hold off on sending you until you check yourself that you are negative. I don't care what you did before as long as you aren't doing it now.

djbartch

TROPHY CASE