AVUSD staffers headed to regional competitions
From Staff Reports
Seven school bus drivers represented Apple Valley Unified School District at the California Association of School Transportation Officials Local Chapter 20 School Bus Roadeo. Three will advance to the CASTO Chapter 1 Roadeo in Devore, followed by the Southern Sectional Roadeo in Cabazon.
The CATSO Roadeo exists to promote safety and to sharpen drivers’ skills as professional school bus drivers. Drivers compete against one another in timed events, including an obstacle course, which requires drivers to parallel park, make turns, back up and practice loading and unloading.
Lily Blanchette, Norine Bruce, Amanda Leavelle, Yvette Murrillo, Sheila Roeder, Claudia Tapia and Tracy Yost represented AVUSD at the local competition, held at Bass Stadium in Apple Valley. The event attracted 49 drivers from as far south as San Diego and as far north as Marysville, located north of Sacramento. Leavelle took third place in the open category. Leavelle, Bruce and Yost will compete in the CASTO Chapter 1 Roadeo in Devore, followed by the Southern Sectional Roadeo in Cabazon.
The Southern Sectional Roadeo is on May 2. All drivers that place at this competition are qualified to advance to the State Championship Roadeo, held on Memorial Day weekend in Galt. The winner of the State Championship Roadeo will go on to compete at the National Roadeo.
“I’ve never been more proud of my drivers,” Sandy Dillman, director of transportation, said. “As a Specialist Member of the State Roadeo Committee I look forward to watching them compete and cheering them on.”