For the second time, Minnesota officially recognized its school bus drivers, who safely transport more than 760,000 students to and from school each day.

To recognize the importance of pupil transporters, Gov. Mark Dayton proclaimed Feb. 28 as School Bus Driver Appreciation Day in Minnesota. School districts across the state celebrated the day by passing out thank-you cards made by students and providing food and beverages to bus drivers.

The Minnesota School Bus Operators Association (MSBOA) and Minnesota Association for Pupil Transportation (MAPT) teamed up to create School Bus Driver Appreciation Day as a way to encourage school leaders, parents, and students to celebrate the often overlooked profession.
 
Dr. Daniel Bittman, superintendent for Independent School District 728 in Elk River, expressed his appreciation for Minnesota bus drivers and the work they do — beyond just transporting students. “You are our unsung heroes,” Bittman said. “What you do on a day-to-day basis makes a difference for our kids and families — our kids in poverty, our kids who are struggling, our kids who just need a smile and who just need to know that they have a safe way to get to and from school. I could not do your job, and not a day goes by that I am not grateful.”

State Patrol noted that the 17,000 school bus drivers in the state transport 760,000 students to and from school each day, log 78 million miles annually in doing so, and are dedicated to student safety.

Driver appreciation should be an annual celebration in every state.  “Unsung heroes” is great term to use for all school bus drivers that keep our children safe each day. We can never thank them enough for what