School Bus Breakdown
After near-miss, more yellow lights ahead as major cuts loom
(Feb. 9, 2012) A staccato rain hits the metal roof, the heater hums, the engine idles in a rhythmic rumble, and the driver chitchats.
For now, this school bus aside the curb at South Fork High School in Miranda is almost quiet, an empty-seated cavern of calmness on a Friday afternoon.
Then … the door swings open and in bounds a roar that’s anything but dull.
As if pressurized by a week of school, freshly released from classrooms and questions, about 60 teenagers ascend the steps in a steady, swift, focused flow. They hit the center aisle, conform to a single file and move toward the choicest remaining seats. Each student seems to carry on at least one loud conversation, some seemingly with themselves.
It’s a cohort based not on aptitude, gender, grade level, family income nor ethnicity, but on a string of geography shared day in and day out. It creates an impromptu after-school study group on wheels for Socialization 101, where children learn about going along, standing strong, flirting, not hurting, conversing, convulsing, enduring a doofus, sharing a seat and more.
As the bus pulls out from the high school, a boy in the back unburdens himself with loud, passionate, creative cussing about a teacher who allegedly targets him repeatedly for unjust persecution. Driver Matt Stark, who knows the teacher and the student, tracks the outburst in the rearview mirror, inquires about its impetus, acknowledges the potential for injustice, and then calls for the plaintiff to quiet down and sit down. A measure of calm comes … on Stark’s second call.
While Stark yields some disciplinary ground, he maintains control. “I consider their time on this bus as their time,” he says. “They’ve just put in a full day at school.”
Though he’s only been driving the bus for three weeks, he knows. He’s one of at least four Southern Humboldt Unified School District drivers who rode the district’s buses themselves as children. He rode Bus No. 40; now he drives Bus No. 6. It’s a temporary stint that fits between his seasonal work with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, yet he says, “I can see the fulfillment in those who make it a career. It’s the kids. You get to know them. You’re taking care of them.”
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent on the cover
May 17
Ring of Fire
Sun and moon will perform a rare pas de deux in Humboldt skies on Sunday
May 10
District Soup
Racing for the top county seat in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd districts
May 3
A Place in the Woods
As park closure deadline nears, a scramble to save what we can
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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FOUR Comments
Comment / By General Fadi Basem / Feb. 9, 12:52 p.m.
Ten page reloads for one article? Get a “one page” button.
Comment / By Kym Kemp / Feb. 10, 5:19 p.m.
Thank you for this well-written piece—the condensation on the windows and the problems facing rural kids came into focus. Well done.
Comment / By Diamond / Yesterday, 1:57 a.m.
Damnit, I don’t care if it was used in Super Troopers or not. That quote is from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Comment / By local dude / Today, 4:31 p.m.
I was left wondering if all the non taxed income in So Hum contributes to the state of their schools. The article mentioned things like people paying for their kids to ride the bus unless they qualify for free service because of a lack of income. Once again, with a high (no pun intended) percentage of growers in So Hum, their will be many people who qualify as people living in poverty. I just was curious if the lack income tax base adversely affects what the schools receive from the local tax base.