Kiski Area bus drivers recognized by students at Kiski Area Upper Elementary

Kiski Area bus drivers were recognized by students Wednesday at Kiski Area Upper Elementary School in Washington Township.

It’s the second year the school has rolled out the KAUE Bus Driver Thank You event for its 21 bus drivers.

Hosted by KAUE Student Council, the surprise event began at 3 p.m. with each bus driver receiving a student-designed handmade booklet, signs and a custom T-shirt.

Happening now! Kiski Area Upper Elementary Student Council students lineup to surprise and say thank you to their bus drivers. @Kiski_Area_SD @Kiski_Area_UE @VNDNews @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/RvRmkK44C0

— Joyce Hanz (@hanz_joyce) November 9, 2022

“We want our drivers to know how much they’re respected and appreciated,” said Kiski Area Upper Elementary Principal Brian Swartzlander.

The drivers handle 18 buses and three vans to meet the transportation needs at the school.

Dawn Reed of Allegheny Township said she has never received such a personalized thank-you gift in her 22 years as a school bus driver.

“It’s awesome. I was surprised and overwhelmed,” she said. “I’m grateful for my school bus kids.”

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review

Kiski Area Upper Elementary bus driver Dawn Reed of Allegheny Township shows off the handmade thank-you sign she received at dismissal Wednesday from students. “I’m grateful for my school bus kids,” she said.

Kiski Area Upper Elementary enrolls about 500 students in fifth and sixth grades.

Swartzlander said the district has faced periodic bus driver shortages over the past two years.

“We want our students to know the importance of our bus drivers because they’re the first people they see and interact with when they start the school day and the last people they see before they return home,” Swartz­lander said.

KAUE has contracts with two local bus companies: Smith and Byers.

Kiski Area gym teacher Kevin Talmadge manages bus dismissal and said he routinely receives great feedback from the drivers and the bus companies.

Talmadge assisted by helping to gather T-shirt sizes for the drivers and information on substitute bus drivers, who also were included in the thank-you.

Student council member Ava Liscotti, a sixth grader, said her favorite part was making the thank-you booklet.

“The students think it’s fun to make them,” said Ava, adding the project took about a month to plan and organize.

Kiski Area Upper Elementary students presented handwritten thank-you notes to their bus drivers.

Her friend, Marissa Litz, a fellow sixth grader and student council member, said the goal of the project is to make the bus drivers feel welcome and appreciated.

“It’s definitely a hard job, and they have to stay focused and concentrate and keep the kids safe,” Marissa said.

New this year are swag T-shirts emblazoned with “KAUE Bus Driver.”

“I am proud of how it came together in making the bus drivers happy,” Ava said.

Paul Prasnikar of Parks Township started driving for KAUE in January.

Clutching his new T-shirt and a giant yellow sign of thanks, Prasnikar said the students are wonderful.

“I was very surprised. The kids are good. This is great,” he said.

Student council adviser Katie Hummel organized the event last year and said the feedback from some of the bus drivers was amazing.

“I have goosebumps right now remembering because I knew it meant something to them. You knew that those bus drivers appreciated all the goodness, messages and well wishes,” Hummel said. “We want them to feel like they are a part of our family, and they need to know it.”