Rockford public schools bus drivers prepare for new school year

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Students across the Stateline are heading back to school this week, with many relying on school buses for transportation.

Rockford Public School District 205 bus drivers are practicing their routes as they prepare for the new school year.

Nicole Allen, a veteran bus driver for RPS 205, emphasized the importance of safety.

“I do my pretrip. I make sure everything’s safe on the bus. I get my tablet ready, I get my sheets ready and then we start our day,” she said.

Allen began her career as a bus driver for Rockford Public Schools in 1990, initially seeking a job that allowed her weekends off as a new mom.

Over the years, driving for RPS 205 has become a family tradition for Allen, with her aunt and mother having worked in the same district.

“We were just family. We were family, and we still are. It’s still that way, you know, even though they’re they’re gone. They’re retired,” she said.

Allen has seen generations of students grow up, recognizing former riders who now have children of their own.

“I see the parents and I’m like, oh, I used to drive you. And they have a comfort in that. They have a comfort in knowing that I started their day. You know, that I’m going to be a part of their kids. It makes me feel good,” she said.

Safety is a top priority for Allen, who advises parents to ensure their children do not run towards the bus, as drivers may not be able to see them.

“Never send your children running towards the bus. Never, never, never. We cannot see them and we want to see them. We’re we’re stopped. We’re looking. We want to see them. But you got to remember that we can’t see everywhere. It’s hard. It’s hard when you’re up here its different,” she cautioned.

Allen said she values the sense of family and community she feels within the district, expressing that she feels loved and loves everyone she works with.

As students return to school, experienced drivers like Nicole Allen play a crucial role in ensuring safe and reliable transportation.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WTVO. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WTVO staff before being published.