TYLER, Texas — Today was school bus driver appreciation day and the drivers from Tyler ISD are feeling the love.
"One of the main reasons is the kids, enjoy having the kids around. We are the first ones I see in the morning, we greet them and sometimes when the last ones I see in the afternoon it’s a great job," said Thomas Quilty, a Tyler ISD bus driver
The district’s drivers shuttle about 5000 students to and from Tyler ISD schools every day. They also take the kids to and from sporting events, field trips and to other events.
Tyler ISD director of transportation John Baggert said, "we had some vendors bring in breakfast foods, through our communications department, we were able to give them some nice prizes and appreciation gifts. And then every day we really appreciate what our what are drivers do."
According to Baggert, Tyler ISD has about 100 bus drivers and another 70 support crew employees and the drivers log about 1.5 million miles per year.