Earlier this year, School Transportation News asked for nominations of fleet managers, supervisors, lead technicians, foremen, and others who stand out in their area of operations for their leadership and expertise in the bus garage.
School Transportation News only had space to profile nine Garage Stars in its publication, but all nominees, including the four from Boone County Schools, were recognized by the publication .
Profiles of the Boone County Schools nominees:
Garage Star Ronald Daniel
Lead Mechanic, Boone County Schools
A great shop can only be led by a great person, and Ronnie is just this for our shop. His ways of work are so exemplary that you seldom know if a change has taken place, but rest assured he is always seeking new ways to make it greater. Keeping it simple has always been his motto, and this effective way of getting the job done can be seen through the personnel he hires and the amount of working flowing out the garage doors. Our mechanics know that Ronnie is there for them and can be trusted to do what is best for them and the buses they put on the road. We owe a large debt of gratitude to Ronnie and his excellent leadership skills in making our shop recognized by the Kentucky Department of Education as an example for others to follow.
Garage Star Mike Grout
Multi-Fuel Mechanic, Boone County Schools
Mike is a true visionary when it comes to maintaining our motor pool vehicles. Our motor pool went from repairing it when it broke to preventative maintenance and has all rested on Mike’s shoulder and capabilities. The motor pool includes cars, vans, trucks, plows and tractors, and Mike can handle it all with a very pleasant attitude. He is dedicated to keeping his fleet in great shape and takes pride in having little to no breakdowns of vehicles. He is a great asset to our shop.
Garage Star Jimmy Joe Rudicill
Multi-Fuel Mechanic, Boone County Schools
Though with the shop for only five years, Jimmy Joe has already stepped up into some big shoes. He has been actively taking part in learning all the roles of the shop in order to ensure this department will be carried on successfully in the future. Approximately half of the current staff in the shop will be retiring in the next four to five years, and Jimmy Joe has made it his job to make sure the shop will continue successfully after all this experience leaves. He has been eager to obtain additional training and asking the questions to gain the knowledge needed to sustain the shop’s excellent service.
Garage Star Charles Utz
Multi-Fuel Mechanic, Boone County Schools
Charlie has been with our district for 24 years and is an intricate part of the shop. He has worked his way up to an extremely experienced mechanic and willingly shares his knowledge regarding buses and the ways of work for the shop. His experience is greatly relied on, and the new shop staff know to seek out his help. This year Charlie went way beyond his role as a shop mechanic by driving bus routes to help out during our driver shortage. Charlie volunteered to even take a bus route for six weeks until the shortage was eased. This is a true sign of a valuable employee, and we appreciate having him on our team.
School Transportation News is a monthly news and feature magazine serving the field of pupil transportation.
Boone County Schools