Wyatt Kuiken--"It's All About the Kids..."

Transportation Supervisor Wyatt Kuiken

One of the many important responsibilities of a school district is to provide transportation for students to and from school, athletic contests, and field trips--a responsibility South Bend Transportation Supervisor, Wyatt Kuiken, takes seriously.

Coming to South Bend in 2011 from the Granger School District, Wyatt manages a fleet of 12 school busses, five support vehicles, and all grounds equipment.  On top of that, he supervises 9 full time bus drivers, while delivering over 320 students each way on a daily basis.  "The biggest positive of the job is definitely the kids," says Wyatt. "We are the first ones to say hello in the morning, and the last ones to say good-bye."  "We have excellent drivers and without them none of this would be possible--our goal is always for the kids to have a positive experience."

Wyatt is not new to schools, and is in his 11th year working with student transportation.  He completed the Pupil Transportation Management program at Central Washington University and also the diesel technology program and ASE (auto service excellence) certification at Walla Walla Community College.

Always with a smile on his face and a Mt. Dew within arm's reach, Wyatt oversees a $400,000 transportation program--doing so with both efficiency and skill.  Keeping the bus fleet in good working order takes up much of his time, as he must undergo safety inspections from the Washington State Patrol twice per year.  Though Wyatt isn't one to brag, I will mention that since I have been in South Bend, he has a 100% passing rate in all of his WSP bus inspections.  Wyatt takes a lot of pride in keeping the fleet safe and in well-working order.

You might not know it, but a lot also happens behind the scenes in Wyatt's world.  "During the winter I'm usually up at 4:00 am checking the roads to be sure they are safe," says Wyatt.  "We often have icy conditions or water to contend with, we have lots of road conditions to consider before picking up the kids." This is a responsibility not taken lightly, as student safety is the district's top priority.  Wyatt also carries a two-way radio and a cell phone to be sure he can be reached in time of need, always watching out for his drivers and the important cargo they carry.

Another unseen part of his job is the time he spends with routing logistics, where he takes GPS coordinates for each school bus stop in the district.  This requirement ties into the state transportation efficiency rating, of which South Bend has been rated as 100% efficient for the past 5 years.  It is a fine balance dealing with the ever changing state and federal regulations, something in which Wyatt is always current.

Bubba Madrid, former student, visits Wyatt while home from school

Not that Wyatt has enough to do, he also makes a big commitment to many of our high school students.  "I have about two students a year that come out and work with me in the shop."  "I think it's a good thing to teach these guys some valuable skills they don't learn in the regular classroom."  Some of these include:  welding, small engine repair, brake adjustments, rebuilding powertrain components, and car engine repair.

In watching these students working with Wyatt, they learn a lot more than mechanics.  Students working in the shop learn valuable life lessons such as responsibility, always doing their best, being on-time, and treating people with respect.  It is certainly a good thing to give students the opportunity to learn practical skills in a encouraging and supportive environment.  Wyatt reinforces these traits and sets a good example for all of his students.

When people think of schools, the transportation people are probably not the first ones that come to mind.  That being said, they play an important role in the educational process, ensuring our students get to school in a safe and timely manner, greeting students when they come and when they go home, and developing positive relationships with students.  Especially in small schools, the transportation department can be an effective educational resource, providing opportunities to learn specialized skills, and helping kids in ways only the "bus shop" can.

In South Bend, Wyatt and his crew define what it means to, "go the extra mile." They serve an important role in our school and community.

Appreciating Our School Board of Directors

January is School Board Appreciation month in the State of Washington, as proclaimed by Governor Jay Inslee.  In South Bend, we are fortunate to have five school board members who are each dedicated to our students, staff, and community.
The school board's role is crucial in the operation of Washington's 295 school districts, where a combined 1,477 elected board members govern the education of over one million students, $11 billion dollars of school operational costs, and 160,000 school employees.  School board members are volunteers, and their service is much appreciated.

Locally in South Bend, our board consists of five members, each of whom hold public service jobs in our community while serving on the school board in their spare time.  Their dedication and service to our school district is second to none.

Chairman, Chuck Spoor

Mr. Spoor is our current chairman and has served on the board since 2010.  He is the Chief of Police for the City of Raymond and is a graduate of South Bend High School.  Mr. Spoor also coaches football at South Bend.  He has a daughter who attends South Bend High School.

Vice Chairman, Todd Strozyk

Mr. Strozyk is our vice chairman and has served on the board since 2012.  He is the Chief of the Raymond Fire Department.  Mr. Strozyk coaches football and basketball at South Bend.  He has two children who attend our school.

Member, Steve Rogers

Mr. Rogers was elected to the board in 2008 and until last year served as chairman.  He is a Pacific County Commissioner and is a South Bend High School graduate.  Mr. Rogers serves with numerous community clubs and organizations, two of which include the South Bend Kiwanis and the Pacific County Historical Society.

Member, Dave Eastham

Mr. Eastham is South Bend's longest serving board member and has served on the board for 16 years.  He is the Chief of Police for the City of South Bend.  Mr. Eastham's three children all graduated from South Bend High School.  He and his wife Carolyn are currently hosting a foreign exchange student from Brazil, who attends South Bend High School.

Member, Andy Seaman

Mr. Seaman has served on the board since 2012.  He is the Computer Services Supervisor for Pacific County and is a graduate of South Bend High School.  His wife, Anita, teaches second grade at Chauncey Davis Elementary.  Mr. Seaman's children all graduated from South Bend High School.



As superintendent, it is a pleasure to work with such a competent group of individuals.  Our board members also visit the campus consistently, and interact with staff and students.  There is never any doubt their desire is to do what is best for all students, a fact that has a strong impact on the quality education South Bend students receive.

The job of a school board member is often thankless and is an important responsibility.  The community of South Bend, our students, staff, and faculty are fortunate to have a school board that is dedicated, supportive, and caring of our children's education.

This month, please take some time to thank these gentlemen for their continued service to our school.   They play a big role in making South Bend, "A Great Place for Kids."