The Northborough-Southborough schools depend on 32 patient, welcoming bus drivers to keep the system running smoothly. However, due to shortages this year, the drivers are under particular stress and are often not recognized for their hard work.

Within the district, there are 17 drivers for Northborough and 15 for Southborough. Assistant Superintendent of Operations Keith Lavoie oversees transportation for the district and believes the bus drivers should be recognized for the significant roles they play within the community. 

“[They’re] the first person that a student will see in the morning and the last person a student will see when they go home,” Lavoie said.

The district bus drivers shuffle between elementary, middle and high schools. Thousands of students rely on them for transportation, yet many overlook the work and responsibility that goes into being a bus driver. 

“It’s a huge responsibility,” Southborough Bus-8 driver Francoise White said. “The job looks easy until it’s not, and not everybody can drive a big vehicle, practice student management and keep their cool and their sense of humor.”

The pressure of dealing with students, parents and the administration has only increased over the past few years with the nationwide bus shortage. Lavoie explained that prior to the pandemic, the district had more than enough bus drivers and if a driver needed to step out for personal reasons, a substitute could easily take over. For the past year, however, that has not been the case.

“Every day we are short at least one driver and every day I get communications between 6 a.m. and 6:15 a.m. to give me the low-down for what the day is going to be,” Lavoie said. 

Being short-staffed, drivers are advocating for more people to apply.  Driver of bus N-10 Nicole Ryan believes that it’s a great job for parents, and other drivers have shared the benefits of being able to bring their kids with them. Many also enjoy going the extra mile with dog treats and have laughs with the students they often watch grow up. 

“I know it’s not a dream job like being a doctor or a lawyer, but it’s a fun job and it is rewarding,” Ryan said.  

Driver of bus N-11 Ann Read

Ann Read has been a bus driver for approximately 24 years and currently drives Bus N-11. 

What is the best part about your job?

“It fits in with my schedule and with my lifestyle…the little kids are a lot of fun.”

What is something the students might be surprised to know about you?

“I grew up in Westborough…Since in 2003, [when] I came over to Northborough and I was clearly a Ranger fan and Gonk was our enemy, I flip-flopped.” 

What else do you like to do? 

“I like spending time with my dog…and my grandchildren.” 

Driver of Bus N-13 Kathy Segien

Kathy Segien has been a bus driver for 15 years and currently drives Bus N-13. 

What is the best part about your job?

“The convenience of having a school schedule.” 

What is your favorite part of being a bus driver?

“Seeing [the kids] change and having them grow up.”

Driver of bus N-10 Nicole Ryan

Nicole Ryan has been a bus driver for just over one year and currently drives Bus N-10. 

What is the best part about your job?

“Having summers off.”

Favorite part about being a bus driver?

“The kindergartners because they’re so cute.”

What are some of the challenges of your job?

“Dealing with kids that don’t want to listen.”

What is something the students might be surprised to know about you?

“I think [the kids] are wicked funny…that kind of thing when I know I should be like ‘No no, don’t say that,’ but I think it’s funny.”

Driver of Bus S-15 Sue Sowden

Sue Sowden has been a bus driver for 14 years and currently drives Bus S-15.

What is your favorite part about being a bus driver? 

“I like all the kids, but the little ones are the cutest. They say the funniest things; If their parents only knew some of the things they told us.”

What are some of the challenges of your job? 

“The middle school kids are challenging somewhat. Especially at the end of the year right now, they want to get out so badly and they’re just off the walls and you just try to maintain some sense of discipline… I have to say there are a lot of stupid drivers out there that just cut in front of us like it’s nothing and like we can stop on a dime. Things like that, they just don’t want to get behind a bus.”

Driver of Bus S-8 Francoise White

Francoise White has been a bus driver for about 24 years and currently drives Bus S-8.

What is the best part about your job?

“Hands down the kids.”

What are some of the challenges of your job?

“Middle school children, they are like ping-pong balls bouncing off the wall.”

Driver of bus S-1 Morena Huezo

Morena Huezo has been a bus driver for about 25 years and currently drives Bus S-1.

What is the best part about your job?

“It’s to get to see the little kids every morning.”

What are some of the challenges of your job?

“[A] challenge is the fact that we don’t get paid enough. Bus drivers, it’s a great responsibility, and I don’t think we get paid enough.”

What is your favorite bus memory?

“There are many, but I…have a little girl named Maggie and when she saw me the first day of school, kindergarten, she came and hugged me…and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s sweet.’ Little kids that trust you, it’s priceless.”

Driver of Bus S-10 Paul Mayo

Paul Mayo has been a bus driver for about 37 years and currently drives Bus S-10.

What is the best part about your job?

“I like watching the kids…kids are born and then watching them grow from kindergarten right up to high school.”

“Getting to know the families, the people…It’s rewarding as far as [the relationships] go.” 

Favorite part about being a bus driver?

“Dealing with the coworkers, we all stick together. If any one of them was in a bind or running behind or there was an accident involved, everybody’s going to help anybody…over here, everybody seems to work with each other instead of against each other.”

What are some of the challenges of your job?

“Dealing with people running your red lights. When you’re picking up these kids and they just don’t see that red stop sign and they keep going and then you’re looking in that mirror and seeing 60 sets of eyes and you’re thinking, this could be one of these kids…people don’t think.”

What are some of the challenges of your job?

“Getting the snow and the ice off the buses at 2 o’clock in the morning in the wintertime. I’m over there cleaning off the buses, I’ve lost two teeth with the ice falling off the roof. It’s cold, it’s miserable.”