Streetsboro, OH
The 2023 Northeast Ohio School Bus ROAD-E-O, hosted by Streetsboro City Schools for a second time in as many years, was a great success, with 58 drivers from various Northeast Ohio school districts and contractors competing in today’s regional event.
Nine regional events occur all over the state on the same date, with a state event later in May.
The competition was held on a chilly and rainy day with a temperature of 45F, but the weather did not dampen the participants’ enthusiasm.
The event was run by a team of 35+ volunteers, judges, and staff members who ensured the competition ran smoothly.
The drivers were tested in various events, including offset street, diminishing clearance, forward stop bar, reverse serpentine, right-hand turn, railroad crossing, turn-around, and a written assessment.
In addition, the drivers also had to demonstrate their skills in picking up and dropping off students, which is a specific requirement for school bus drivers.
The Northeast Ohio School Bus ROAD-E-O is a competition that tests the skills of school bus drivers, with the clearance on obstacles often counted in inches.
The top 6 drivers from today’s event qualify for the School Bus ROAD-E-O at the state level, where they will compete against drivers from across Ohio.
Andrea Phillips, a school bus driver from Akron Public Schools, scored 736 out of a possible 750. She also won last year’s regional event and placed 2nd in the state in 2022.
Organizing the event was a collaborative effort between several teams from Streetsboro City Schools, the Ohio Department of Education’s Pre-Service Team, and Transportation Supervisors from around the region.
Andreas Johansson, the Northeast Ohio Regional ROAD-E-O Chairperson, Director of Operations at Streetsboro, and Director at Large of the Ohio Association of Pupil Transportation, said,
“The ROAD-E-O is a great opportunity for any bus driver wanting to compete and put their skills to the test. Our drivers (in Ohio) are some of the best in the nation. They know how to drive a school bus safely and precisely – all while keeping student management under control and delivering kids to and from school each day.”
The 2023 Northeast Ohio School Bus ROAD-E-O was a great success, and we congratulate all participants on their excellent performance. We look forward to seeing the top 6 drivers compete at the state level, and we thank all of the volunteers, judges, and staff members who helped make this event possible.