Shirley Batten Price joined the school district’s transportation team as a bus operator in August 1970 and retired the first time in May 2012.
But she couldn’t stay away too long and she returned to driving in August 2013. She told Ralph Leath, the school district’s transportation director, that she would come back for a couple of years.
Now, 12 years later, she will be retiring on May 1, 2025, with a total of 47 years as a bus operator for Hernando County School District.
To mark her retirement, the Hernando County School Board honored Price with a special recognition.
“I personally try to live by a belief in the model that the greatest investment a person can make is in the lives of others,” Leath told the Hernando County School Board on April 22.
“Shirley has lived this belief and model as she has transported hundreds of thousands of kids to and from school over the last 47 years. I would like to thank her for her faithful contribution of 47 years to our transportation department and the students of our school district.”
Q&A with Shirley Price
Q: What inspired you to become a school bus driver initially?
I enjoy working with the kids and the hours because you get to be home part of the day.
Q: What are some of the biggest changes you’ve witnessed in school transportation over these decades?
There is a lot more students and newer buses, I started out on an old international standard shift.
Q: What motivated you to return to bus driving after your initial retirement?
I came back to driving because I actually missed the kids and my coworkers.
Q: What keeps you passionate about serving the school district after all these years?
It’s not always as easy as people think it is, but I never let a bad day get to me or take a mean interaction personally because it is all about taking care of the students.
Q: Can you share a particular story about a student or family that has stayed with you?
Several years ago, I transported a small child in a wheelchair. He was so cute and every time I would talk with him, he was always smiling or laughing and encouraging. Towards the end of the year, he passed and I attended his service and it hurt so bad to see him gone.
Q: Do you remember any particular challenges or adventures from your routes over the years?
Over the years, I’ve had so many things happen to me I could easily write a book. I’ve had a group of high schoolers throw fireworks in my window and one time I had my window shot out.
Q: What message would you like to share with the parents and students of Hernando County?
It has been a privilege to watch all the kids in the last 47 years grow and become adults and have their kids on my bus, some of which I carried their grandparents, mom or dad, brothers and sisters. I’ve got to care for a lot of kids besides my own two.
Bus Driver Appreciation Day
Hernando County School Board members also approved a proclamation for Bus Driver Appreciation Day. Mr. Leath read the proclamation, which stated that every day in Hernando County, 94 buses transport more than 10,500 students to and from school and the Hernando County school bus drivers provide an incredible service to our students.
“Hernando County Schools salutes and appreciates school bus drivers and recognizes the invaluable contribution they make to public education, student safety and wellbeing.”
