25-03-2025
Harris County School District adds new special education buses to fleet
HARRIS COUNTY, Ga. () — The Harris County School District has added two new special education buses to its fleet. Connie Heath is one of the lucky drivers who began driving one of the buses this week.
A bus driver for 35 years, Heath is a real-life Ms. Frizzle (the eclectic teacher who transports students in the fictional 'Magic School Bus'). Heath's yellow school bus earrings and love for the students she drives are a testament to that.
'It's a great job,' Heath said Tuesday after making her morning rounds. 'We, myself and my monitor, really enjoy it and we enjoy the children.'
Heath and her right-hand woman, Special Needs Bus Monitor Melanie Dorsey, have been working together for the past two years. Their new bus helps them do their job even better.
'I'm really excited,' said Heath, who disclosed this is the first time she's ever gotten to drive a brand-new bus in her career.
The buses were funded through a combination of ESPLOST funds and an $88,000 state grant, for a total investment of $290,000.
'This one is really upgraded and it has a lot of really good features and we're just really enjoying it,' Heath said.
Her new bus is wheelchair accessible and has added safety features to help make sure every student gets to school safely. The modifications were added specifically to meet the needs of the Harris County students who use it.
Voters approved using SPLOST funds for the buses in response to a growing necessity for transportation to school for local children with special needs. The buses are currently serving about 15 students in the community, but are equipped to help more than twice that number.
'We do appreciate the community and all the voters for the ESPLOST that allows us to to purchase new busses for our fleet,' said Harris County School District Transportation Director Dee Miller.
Miller said students from pre-k through 12th grade will not only use the buses for getting to- and from school, but also for field trips and after school activities.
'It's great,' said Heath, whose main priority has always been ensuring her students' safety.
After more than three decades on the job, Heath says she feels more comfortable driving a bus than her own car.
Amid a national bus driver shortage, this week, Heath and Dorsey are taking extra pride in driving their two-hour route twice a day to bring their eight students to- and from school safely in their brand-new bus.
Harris County officials say they are still looking to fill bus driver and bus monitor positions for regular- and special education buses.
Local SPLOST funds have also recently been used to build a new transportation facility and update safety features at area schools.
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