When roads turn muddy, we turn to our bus drivers - San Juan School District

By Dr. Christine Fitzgerald
Superintendent, San Juan School District

September 29th was a big day for our district. Our annual Civics Day celebration would bring hundreds of high school students to San Juan High School to learn about voting, ask questions of public officials and understand how they can participate in their communities.

We had spent months planning. Dr. Molly Hart, Utah’s state superintendent of public instruction, State Sen. David Hinkins, and State Representative Logan Monson were among our invited guests.

But I had also been watching the dark skies for days. I knew from recent experience how quickly even the best-laid plans could change. We had seen that on September 17th.

Rain had brought muddy roads and questions from families on Facebook. Would we close schools again?

On September 17, heavy rain, mud, and flooded roads forced schools in Bluff, Montezuma Creek, and Monument Valley to close. Students from those communities who attend schools in Blanding were excused because travel was unsafe. Bus routes serving the affected areas did not operate.

The decision came the evening before, after students had already gone home. It followed discussions about conditions and whether we could safely transport students the next morning.

With more rain around Civics Day, we faced another round of questions. A major event was on the calendar, but the question guiding us was the same as on any school day: Could students and staff travel safely?

To answer that, we depend on people who know our roads. Our bus drivers are our eyes and ears on the ground and in the moment.

They travel routes that can look very different from conditions outside a school building or the district office. They know where mud collects, where water crosses a road, and where a route may become impassable. Their reports help us understand what families are facing.

Our bus drivers know the weather and the roads, and they find creative solutions. For example, drivers serving Montezuma Creek schools work together when a section of road washes out. Two buses serve the route, one on each side of the damaged section. The drivers work together to pick up and transport students.

Weather forecasts tell us what may be coming. Our drivers help tell us what is happening.

When rain continues for several days, district leaders monitor forecasts and road conditions. School administrators, Safety Director Dr. Jenna Olson, Director of Technology Jared Brown, Transportation Supervisor Conan Benallie, and Assistant Superintendents Dr. Derek Begay and Paul Murdock contribute to the discussions.

We regularly consult San Juan County Road Superintendent TJ Adair and may seek information from the Highway Patrol. On the Navajo Nation, we rely heavily on Benallie and bus drivers for reports from the routes they serve.

Sometimes, that assessment means going out to see conditions firsthand. During a recent review that did not result in a closure, Conan drove the roads personally to help determine whether buses could travel safely.

In a district as large as ours, roughly the size of New Jersey, conditions can vary widely. One community may have passable roads while another faces flooding or deep mud. That is why a closure may affect certain schools or bus routes rather than the entire district.

As conditions change, district staff stay in contact with transportation staff and drivers. Schools send family updates through Thrillshare, our website, the district Facebook page, and other communication channels.

I understand why families want an early, clear answer. A school closure affects work schedules, child care, and plans for the day. We have to gather enough information to make a sound decision, then communicate it as promptly as we can.

Our bus drivers are central to that work. Their responsibility extends beyond getting students to school and home. Their knowledge of our communities and their attention to changing conditions help us decide when we can safely keep schools open and when we need to close them.

When families ask how we make that call, a large part of the answer is simple: We listen to the people who know the roads best. We get out and experience the conditions ourselves. We get our feet wet and, in many cases, muddy, so we can decide whether it is safe for our kids to travel.