Let’s Show Our SSISD Bus Drivers Some Love

If you’ve been on Facebook lately, you already know that the new Sulphur Springs ISD bus routes have been a hot topic.

There have been route changes, longer days, confused parents, frustrated parents, frustrated kids and unfortunately, a whole lot of that frustration and stress has landed on the people sitting behind the steering wheel.

Our bus drivers.

So instead of adding another complaint to Facebook, I thought maybe our community could do something a little different.

Let’s show up for them.

SSISD has transitioned away from the old bus hub system and is operating new routes directly from individual campuses. At the same time, our district is dealing with a shortage of bus drivers.

That means the drivers we do have are carrying an enormous responsibility while everyone adjusts.

These men and women didn’t design the routes.

They didn’t create the driver shortage.

They’re getting behind the wheel of a giant yellow bus filled with our children and doing their best to get them where they need to go safely.

And imagine doing that while phones are ringing, routes are changing, kids are confused, parents are upset, traffic is backed up, it’s hotter than blue blazes outside, and half of Sulphur Springs is discussing your job performance on Facebook.

That deserves a little appreciation.

This GoFundMe is being created to bless the SSISD bus drivers who are showing up every morning and afternoon during what has clearly been a difficult transition.

The goal is to use the money raised to provide something directly for the drivers—whether that’s gift cards, meals, drinks/snacks, or another fair way of dividing the donations among the transportation staff.

This isn’t about saying every concern parents have is wrong. When it comes to our children, parents absolutely should speak up about genuine safety concerns.

But we can address problems without treating our bus drivers like they ARE the problem.

They’re people.

They’re our neighbors.

They’re somebody’s mom, dad, grandmother, grandfather, friend or coworker.

And right now, we need them.

In fact, if you’re reading this thinking, “I could do it better…” — good news. SSISD is hiring bus drivers.

Until then, maybe we give the ones who ARE showing up a little grace.

If every family donated even $5, $10 or $20, imagine what we could do for these drivers.

Let’s remind them that despite all the noise surrounding transportation right now, there are a whole lot of people in Sulphur Springs who appreciate them.

Every dollar raised will go toward showing appreciation to the SSISD transportation staff.

Please donate if you’re able—and if you can’t, sharing this fundraiser and saying THANK YOU to a bus driver costs absolutely nothing.

Thank you, SSISD bus drivers, for continuing to show up for our kids. We see you. We appreciate you. And we’ve got your back.

Go Wildcats!