‘I’ll miss my kids’
Handing in the keys after 31 years
BROKEN BOW - In the early 1990s, Carmen Finney was working in the kitchen at Sargent Public Schools. Her hours were cut and, as a single mother, it wasn’t enough. One of the bus drivers asked her if she wanted to learn how to drive a school bus. She told him. “I don’t see why not.”
That answer and a lesson on a country road led Finney to a job has loved and will be retiring from when the school ends this spring at Broken Bow Public Schools.
“I have gotten up every day looking forward to doing my job,” Finney said.
Finney said she will miss the students most of all, saying. “I’ve had the best kids ever.” Those children have given her countless hugs along with treats, Christmas ornanaments, meals, notes, Valentines and other gifts. When recovering from surgery, one of her “bus mommas,” as Finney calls them, brought her supper complete with dessert.
On a normal school day, Finney arrives at the bus barn by 6:10 a.m. There is coffee waiting for her, made by Transportation Director Kevin Lindly. Finney is the only driver who drinks coffee and Lindly makes it faithfully every day for her.
After a pre-trip inspection - mirrors, walkthrough, tires, oil and lights - she leaves at 6:22 a.m. to arrive at her first pick-up by 6:50 a.m. She is back at the middle school an hour later. When school is over for the day, the process is repeated.
Finney has seen a lot of changes, from buses with no seat belts to mandatory seat belt use, stick-shift to automatic transmissions and gas-burners to diesel.
“I’ve survived six superintendents and three bus barn bosses,” she said. “Of all the superintendents, Mr. Tobey is the one who participates. He comes over. He has driven my route when I’ve had surgery.”
In 31 years, she’s had only two flat tires, one on the road and one in the bus barn. And she’s never ran out of gas, taking to heart what her first boss, Roger Carroll, told her. “You keep your bus filled with fuel,” she quoted. “If you’re out in the country and you run out of gas, do not call me.” She added, “To this day, I’ve been very careful. He was a good boss.”
At one time, Finney drove routes that would add up to about 100 miles a day. This past year she’s driven Bus #03 on a 40 -mile route for 80 miles a day, 400 miles a week. Even with no-school-days and holidays, it would be a conservative estimate that she’s driven 12,000 miles in a single year.
She speaks fondly of all student riders, however, she mentioned one in particular, saying. “Darius Christner was one of my favorite people.” The special needs student who graduated BBHS a few years ago, would cheerfully greet her when he boarded the bus, saying, “Hi, Miss Carmen. It’s a great day to have a great day!” She says Darius and his family are now in Texas. “He loved everybody and he encouraged me every day,” she added.
Her retirement plans are to spend more time with her husband who retired last year. “Steve is my best friend. I’m looking forward to spending time with him,” she said. They may do some traveling to see relatives in Rhode Island, Texas, Des Moines and Omaha. “I’ve had one knee replaced and the other one is still cranky. It’s time,” she said.
Some years ago, one of her grandchildren, then in 5th grade, told her he wanted her to drive until he graduated high school. She recalls telling him, “I don’t think I can do that.” That grandson graduates this year.
“I’ve had amazing bosses and good superintendents and teachers who do bus duty.,” Finney said. “I’d like to thank all my kids and parents of the kids for good bus years. I was blessed to get up and be able to go to a job I loved.”