IN JACKSON, BUS DRIVING IS A FAMILY AFFAIR

JACKSON -- Jean Kurre has made countless trips to school over the past 26 years.

For 10 years she worked as a bus driver for the Jackson School District; she was the district's first woman driver. For the last 16 years, she has steered the district's school bus system as transportation director or "bus boss" as she is affectionately known.

School buses are a family affair for Kurre and her clan. Kurre's daughter and son-in-law, Penny and Jim Gerhard of Oak Ridge, work for her as school bus drivers. Penny's brother used to drive a Jackson school bus while working his way through college. Now, he helps manage a school-bus manufacturing operation in Indiana.

As a youngster, Penny took the bus to school. Her mom was the bus driver. "She rode with me every day until junior high," recalled Kurre.

As one might expect with one's mom aboard, Penny was on her best behavior while riding the bus. "I was extra good," said Gerhard.

Both she and her husband spent time in the Navy before getting out about a year ago. They began driving Jackson school buses around February of last year.

Gerhard and her husband also attend classes at Southeast Missouri State University.

Being a bus driver is great for a student, she said. A driver may work an hour and a half early in the morning and then another hour and a half after school.

"I love driving a big vehicle and interacting with kids," said Gerhard. "A lot of the friendly ones chat with me and I know what's going on and how they are doing."

Like other bus drivers, Gerhard doesn't tolerate students acting up on the bus. "No eating, no drinking and it's classroom conduct," she said.

Kurre said there are several husband and wife bus driver teams on her staff.

Getting kids to school is a big task, particularly in the Jackson School District.

The district is one of the largest in the state geographically, encompassing 550 square miles -- extending from the Perry County line on the north to Dutchtown on the south, and from the Mississippi River at Neelys Landing on the east to a small part of Bollinger County on the west.

Each school day, Jackson school buses combined log more than 2,000 miles.

"We have 43 buses, but we have four spares. We have 39 on the road," said Kurre. Most of the buses can haul 66 students, although the district does have six 78-passenger buses.

Kurre supervises a staff of 47, which includes regular and substitute drivers and two maintenance employees. The drivers -- most of whom are homemakers or self-employed -- have to keep their buses clean, both inside and out.

The school district spends about $500,000 a year operating its buses. That includes everything from fuel to salaries.

"We are able to operate our facility more economically than we could if we were contracted," said Kurre. "Our drivers are very well paid, but otherwise we try to hold down costs."

All but 17 of the buses are housed at the school district's central garage. The others, which are used on outlying routes, are parked at the drivers' houses which are closer to the start of their routes.

"Here in town, their routes are short, but they have a real load of children," said Kurre. A city route can take about 40 minutes to run.

But on outlying routes, drivers may be on the road an hour and a half.

School buses have become safer and more comfortable over the years, with padded backs on the seats and automatic "stop" arms.

Even so, the heart of a school bus system is still the drivers.

Drivers have to pass several tests to get their commercial driver's licenses. Kurre said her staff includes two trainers that are certified by the state.

But she said being a good driver is not enough. "You've got to be able to relate to the children or you are finished before you start."

School bus drivers are an important cog in the school system. "Our drivers are the first school people that these parents and children see in the morning and the last ones they see in the afternoon," said Kurre.

Kurre, herself, still gets behind the wheel of a school bus from time to time. Said Kurre, "I always love the children."