North Royalton City Schools bus drivers put their skills to the test and brought home several honors from the annual School Bus Road-e-o competition held October 3. This year’s competition featured a “Fall Fiesta” theme, adding some extra fun and team spirit to the day.
Fourteen North Royalton City Schools drivers competed: Bruce Abbott, Lynn Hasselbusch, Frank Helderman, Jane Lawry, Joe Minnick, Earl Owens, Gene Owens, John Pate, Colleen Scharf, Trevor Sink, Sheila Sopata, Adina Ungureanu, Karin Wolford and Karen Zanotti. Robert Craddock served as an event judge, and Sandi Burger served as the insider starter.
The competition challenges school bus drivers to demonstrate their knowledge, precision and driving skills through a series of events based on situations they encounter behind the wheel.
Bruce Abbott earned first place overall, qualifying him for the State Bus Road-e-o Competition in Columbus on October 17. Karen Zanotti finished seventh overall and Jane Lawry placed eighth overall. Zanotti and Lawry will also travel to Columbus and are eligible to compete if any of the top six qualifiers are unable to participate.
North Royalton City Schools also had a strong showing in the team competition. Abbott, Frank Helderman, Wolford and Zanotti earned third place.
The district received additional recognition for having the most first-time competitors and took first place for the School District Spirit Award.
“We are incredibly proud of our transportation team and the way they represented North Royalton City Schools,” said Superintendent Jeff Cicerchi. “Our drivers have an important responsibility each day, and this competition gives them an opportunity to demonstrate the skill, care and professionalism they bring to that responsibility. It was especially great to see so many of our drivers participate, support one another and have some fun, too.”
Congratulations to all of the drivers who represented North Royalton City Schools, and best of luck to Abbott, Zanotti and Lawry as they head to Columbus on October 17.
