'I'm the boss': Saskatoon husband and wife school bus driving team 'get focused' ahead of September
School is starting up again and so is Jerry Diekema’s bus. Diekema drives a school bus and his wife, Barb, is his bus monitor.
“I’m the boss,” Barb said, laughing.
The Diekemas take more than 20 special needs students to Bishop Klein School and St. Edward School.
“We’re together 24/7 –work and at home,” the school bus driver of nine years told CTV News.
First Student bus drivers got together on Thursday to fine-tune their skills ahead of the school year.
In a low-traffic area, in Saskatoon’s north-end, drivers practiced tight turns, pick-ups, drop-offs and got their mirrors adjusted.
“We have some stations set up and those stations are designed to mimic a parked vehicle or a certain turning situation,” said Chris Klassen, a location safety manager with First Student.
“The whole idea is to put them into positions with no risk to the public, no risk to damaging parked vehicles, and remind them of the limits of the bus.”
The Diekemas take more than 20 special needs students to Bishop Klein School and St. Edward School.(Laura Woodward/CTV News)
The clinic has been useful for both new and experienced drivers, like Keith Morphy, who has been behind the wheel of the bus for 12 years.
“The re-orientation has always been so useful because you’ve spent the last six, eight weeks doing other stuff,” Morphy told CTV News from the driver seat of his freshly-adjusted bus.
“It gets you oriented and focused on what you have to do for this upcoming school year.”
Morphy is looking forward to seeing the 46 kids he takes to school.
“What’s amazing about this job is that they pay me to do this!” Morphy said, laughing.
Most students in Saskatoon go back to school on Sept. 3.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6438416.1686613604!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Ottawa resident who tested positive for mosquito-borne virus dies, public health says
An Ottawa resident who died of a viral encephalitis this summer tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus eastern equine encephalitis (EEEV), the first human case of the virus in Ottawa.
DEVELOPING 3 in critical condition after attack in Kingston, Ont., police in standoff with suspect
Police in Kingston, Ont. say a standoff is underway between officers and a suspect following a triple stabbing Thursday morning.
Family of Sikh man speaks out against Toronto-area hospital after beard shaved
The family of a Sikh man from Brampton is seeking an apology, an explanation, and a promise to do better from the local hospital network after they say the facial hair of their loved one was removed without their consent.
A 4.7 magnitude earthquake rattles the Los Angeles area
A 4.7 magnitude earthquake rattled the Los Angeles area Thursday morning, unleashing boulders onto a Malibu road, visibly shaking Santa Monica's 1909 wooden pier and jolting some people from bed. No injuries or damages were immediately reported.
BREAKING 3 dead in Lloydminster, Sask., few details available
Three people are dead after an "incident" in Lloydminster, RCMP have confirmed.
Consul general to New York says he had 'no role whatsoever' in purchase of $9M NYC condo
After weeks of pressure, Canada's consul general Tom Clark is testifying on Thursday before a House of Commons committee about the purchase of his new official residence in New York that generated a lot of political attention over the summer.
Air Canada pushing for government intervention as clock ticks on labour talks
Air Canada is asking the federal government to be ready to intervene in its labour talks with its pilots as time is running out before a potential shutdown.
Realtor fined by B.C. regulator after property photos digitally altered
A British Columbia Realtor has been fined thousands of dollars after a property listing was found to contain photos that were digitally altered to hide peeling paint and show furnishings that did not exist.
Man charged after multiple child sex dolls seized from home: Winnipeg police
A Winnipeg man has been charged with multiple offences after sex dolls designed to look like children were seized from his home.