By FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com
It took more than a decade, but Pat Brumfield’s tenure as a bus driver finally exceeded her time as a bus rider.
In all, the Mahomet-Seymour graduate has spent 30 years on the big, yellow school busses.
Raised in rural Mahomet with her siblings, the former Pat Fredericks had one mode of transportation on school days.
“My folks thought, ‘You have a free ride to school and back home, you’re gonna use it,’ “ Brumfield said.
And, she did.
After 12 years as a passenger, it took a couple of decades before Brumfield returned as a driver.
It wasn’t one of her lifetime goals.
“What I wanted when I was a kid was to be a farmer, like my grandfather,” Brumfield said. “I never gave it (driving a bus) a thought.”
She was working at the Mahomet IGA as the head cake decorator when a friend told her about an opening in the school district.
“Brenda Crowley got me interested,” Brumfield said “She told me they needed drivers.
“I’ve always loved kids and thought I would give it a shot.”
For a few years, she shuffled between the two jobs, often starting work at the IGA at 3 a.m.
Driving a bus wasn’t exactly something she was prepared to do. She hadn’t driven anything larger than the family vehicle.
“It was scary at first, but I got used to it,” Brumfield said. “I had a very good trainer (Rita Norris) who taught me a lot and made me feel good about doing it.
“She used to tell me, ‘If you go slow, you can get yourself out of any situation.’ “
Only once in 18 years of duty did Brumfield encounter a situation where immediate assistance was needed.
She was on her route one winter morning and had only picked up a few passengers.
“I only got stuck (in the snow) once,” she said. “I had to pull in a driveway. It was plowed, but not wide enough for a bus and I got stuck.”
Brumfield started out as a substitute driver her first two years.
“Being a sub, I got to know every route there was,” she said.
Her first full-time assignment for two years was on a route that took her north of Mahomet.
The Seymour resident hoped for a route closer to home and 14 years ago, that became a reality when she was assigned to the Seymour route.
Two of her three children were still in school and, at times, rode the bus.
For her youngest son, she said, “that’s where he behaved the most.”
The original appeal to driving a bus centered around family time.
“I had the whole summer off,” Brumfield said. “I had a couple of boys in school and I was home when they were home.
“It helped my lifestyle.”
Her work day starts early. She is typically leaving home by 5:45 a.m. and heading to the bus barn.
She has a list of checks to make before taking the bus out and tries to be on the road by 6:45.
The morning portion of her shift ends around 8:30, but only after walking the bus “three or four times.”
That inside inspection occasionally leads to a surprise.
“Twice I’ve had kids who’ve fallen asleep and didn’t get off the bus,” said Brumfield, who said those rare occurrences have only happened in the morning.
“I call the school and say such and such didn’t get off. Then I take them to the school.”
In the afternoon, she clocks in by 2:30 and prepares for a shift that will end between 4:45 and 5 p.m.
Drivers have the opportunity for extra assignments, whether it’s transporting students on field trips during the day or carrying an athletic team to its competition site in the evening.
“When I started, I took trips galore,” Brumfield said. “Now, I only take one or two (per semester).
“One of my favorites was the band. I liked listening to them and watching them perform.”
Earlier this week, Brumfield drove one of the five school busses that took second-graders on a day trip to Krannert.
Occasionally, there have been discipline problems. Brumfield has found communication to be the key.
“I make them sit in the front and we talk it out, she said. “You run into things, but you have to have patience and work through them.
“Sometimes I’ve had to let my boss or the principal take over. If people back you up, it makes it easier for you.”
Brumfield drives Bus No 7, a stub-nosed variety that has a capacity of 84.
Most afternoons, she is carrying between 60 and 70 students to their homes.
Her route not only takes her into Seymour, but south to Old Church Rd., east to Rising Rd. and then back west on Rt. 10.
“I’ve enjoyed the last 18 years,” Brumfield said. “You have some ups and downs, but you just work it out.
“I’ve enjoyed getting to know a lot of my kids’ parents.”
While Brumfield is anticipating the concept of retirement and “being able to do things while I’m able,” the same can’t be said for the day she takes the route for the final time next month and then turns in her keys.
“I’m gonna bawl on my last day,” Brumfield said. “I’ll miss the kids, but I live in this town and I’ll keep the connections.”
