Ohio school bus drivers compete at International Safety Competition
7/15/2024
Four Ohio school bus drivers competed at this year’s National School Transportation Association School Bus Driver International Safety Competition in Austin, Texas. The event brings together school bus drivers from across the United States and Canada to showcase their knowledge and skills a competitive setting.
Ohio’s drivers are identified as the top four scorers in the statewide School Bus Driver Safety Road-e-o. There were 53 drivers competing in three separate vehicle classes that include Small Bus - Type A, Conventional Bus – Type C and Transit Bus – Type D.
Ohio’s qualifying drivers were Kevin Ball, Olentangy Local School District; David Pitrone, Solon City Schools; Tara Paquette, Petermann/Durham servicing Lakota Local Schools; and Jered Winnestaffer, Community Bus Services, contracted at Groveport Madison Local Schools.
Winnestaffer placed third in the conventional bus event and fourth place overall in the competition. Ball placed eighth in the transit bus event, Pitrone placed 14th in the conventional bus event, and Paquette placed 13th in the transit bus event.
Winnestaffer has logged more than 500,000 miles since he began driving a school bus in 2006. He has qualified for the state School Bus Safety Road-e-o for 12 consecutive years, and competed in 14 regional School Bus Safety Road-e-o's, winning in 2019 and 2023. Winnestaffer competed at the international event in 2013, where he placed 13th in the conventional bus category and 17th overall.