As students across Central Florida prepare to return to school, Orange County school bus drivers are conducting dry runs and finalizing preparations to ensure a smooth start to the year.

Driver Preparations

Mario Zapatier, a 30-year veteran of driving buses in Orange County, is ready to welcome students back on his bus. "I’m happy to see them, because they’re happy to see you too," Zapatier said.

Orange County Public Schools operates more than 500 routes and 20,000 stops, requiring drivers, especially new ones, to practice their routes in advance. Modern school buses are equipped with advanced features, including tablets that display routes when the bus is stopped, multiple cameras inside and outside the bus to monitor activity, and devices that scan students’ IDs to ensure they are on the correct bus.

Drivers are trained to focus on the road while also keeping an eye on students to ensure their safety. Zapatier explained that different age groups present unique challenges. "Some of them are loud, we have to control that, please can you lower down your voice. Elementary kids you have to be aware about anybody getting up, because some of the little kids have a tendency to get up and try to play," he said.

Zapatier’s day begins at 4:30 a.m., followed by five hours of driving to elementary, middle, and high schools. One of his favorite parts of the job is seeing students grow up. "They get to know you and then they respect you, that’s the best thing you can achieve," Zapatier said.

Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.