Answers to Your Questions
Quality Bus
Service
Quality Bus
Service is contracted to provide transportation services for the
Port Jervis School District.
504 Route 42, Sparrowbush
PHONE: 845-858-2150
FAX: 845-858-2160
Is Quality Bus an experienced,
reputable company? Does it have the level of experience needed
to safely transport students?
Quality Bus Service is comprised
of some of the most respected and experienced managers, drivers,
and mechanics the transportation industry has to offer. Quality Bus
currently holds student transportation contracts in the Goshen,
Warwick Valley, Monroe-Woodbury, Greenwood Lake, and Pine Bush
School Districts for routes that cannot be covered at this time
by their own transportation departments. The company also
provides student transportation services for Orange County
Community College.
What qualifications do the people who run Quality Bus have to
provide this type of service?
The company managers have extensive pupil transportation
experience. Company co-owner George Eckes has 19 years of
experience in pupil transportation. In addition to serving as
assistant director of transportation in the Monticello Central
School District, Eckes was the head mechanic in the Warwick
Valley School District. The 1988 Port Jervis High School
graduate is also a current Department of Motor Vehicle Article
19-A Examiner and NY State Education Department School Bus
Driver Instructor (SBDI).
Company co-owner Michael Martucci is also an Article 19-A Driver
Examiner and a NY State Education Department School Bus Driver
Instructor (SBDI). An active member of the NY State Association
for Pupil Transportation, Martucci has extensive experience
training school bus drivers and monitors.
The company’s two operations managers are also highly-trained
transportation professionals. Karen Mikulski served for 30 years
as Warwick Valley’s head bus driver. Kathleen Ford was the
manager of the company’s former location in Maybrook.
How old are the Quality buses? Are they in good shape?
The average age for the buses in
the Quality fleet is five years. The company has an exceptional
safety and compliance record. Last year, the New York State Department
of Transportation commended Quality Bus for its 90 percent
rating on its bus safety inspections.
Are Quality
buses equipped with any type of safety features?
Quality Bus safety features exceed state requirements. All buses
are equipped with digital video cameras and a Passport NTS
dispatch system that is similar to the type of radio system
widely used by police and fire departments. Most of the
full-size buses and all of the special needs vans are air
conditioned. Additionally, all van-style buses are equipped with
three-point lap and shoulder belts systems.
Does Quality Bus Service conduct background checks on its
drivers?
Quality
Bus Service has a stringent employee screening and selection
process. By law, drivers must undergo the same state and federally-required
screenings as drivers employed by school districts. This
includes driver-history, employment, and criminal background checks; drug
and alcohol testing; and physical examination.
What type of training do Quality Bus Drivers receive? Do they
have the same certifications as school district drivers?
In addition to the company’s stringent screening process, bus
drivers must complete the requirements of the NY State
Department of Motor Vehicles CDL Class B License with Passenger
and School-Bus Endorsement. Within their first year of
employment, bus drivers must complete the 30-hour school bus
driver basic course of instruction. Throughout their employment,
drivers must continue to meet all of the DMV and State Education
Department licensing requirements, which includes the annual
completion of two 2-hour refresher courses. Many of the drivers
currently working at Quality Bus Service are former Port Jervis
School District employees who were screened and trained under
the district program.
My child is transported to school by a Quality Bus. Who do I call
with bus issues?
If you have any questions or
concerns regarding your child’s bus service, please contact
Quality Bus Service directly at 858-2150.
Where do I
send bus forms?
Transportation is located at the Quality Bus Service
facility at 504 Route 42 in Sparrowbush. If you have any
questions or concerns regarding your child’s bus service, please
call 858-2150 for
assistance
For your convenience, transportations forms can be sent to
school with your child or dropped off at your child’s school
office. All forms - except for requests to change assigned bus
routes - can also be faxed to the transportation office at
845-858-2160. Requests to change assigned bus routes must be
approved by your child’s principal.
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