Over 200 NEISD bus drivers help clean, disinfect schools

“I come into work and I start running,” Marc Peterson said eagerly.

Peterson has been an important part of North East ISD for seven years.

“What I’m doing here is to help disinfect the school and keep everybody a little bit safer,” he explained.

But he isn’t a custodian, Peterson is actually a bus driver!

“I really love driving kids. This is just an interesting interlude,” he said while giggling.  

With many school buses grounded while students learn from home, over 200 bus operators like Marc have been lending a hand to custodial staff at campuses across the District.  

Marc said that he is always ready to help where needed, and right now, that is at Regency Place Elementary.

It holds a special place in his heart because his kids and grandkids attended the school.

“All the kids are just about out of the nest now; this school here represents a lot,” he added.

And, although the job is different right now, it holds a lot of similarities too.

“Being a bus driver is different but it does involve quite a bit of cleaning. All summer long, I’ve been scrubbing the heck out of the interiors of every school bus in the school district- me and a handful of other people,” Peterson explained.

Staff and administrators at campuses across the District said the bus operators are always smiling and many have praised them on social media.

He said he and the other drivers are just happy to help.

“I work with a really nice group of people. I’m 60 years old and I’m one of the young ones- or at least I was a few years ago,” he joked.

Peterson said he is excited to get back on the road in a few weeks.

“It’s kind of a simple job but it’s actually more complex than you might imagine. You’re just trying to keep the kids safe and get them to school.”

He also said he is proud to be part of NEISD and is grateful that he is able to help keep kids safe both on the road and in the schools.

“It’s home. It’s home, that’s it.”

Because #NEISDcares!