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The MacKenzie Scott gift is a driving force in the CMSD Transportation Department
10/27/23 -- The accessibility of the MacKenzie Scott gift is open to the entire CMSD community. The Transportation Department is putting a portion of the gift to good use by providing renovations and upgrades to District bus depots.
With an early start to their day, drivers at both the east and west side bus depots can now unwind between morning and afternoon shifts, in a recently enhanced lounging area.
“We utilized the grant by freshening up the driver’s break room,” said Joseph Schultz, Assistant Depot Manager of the west side bus depot.
“Drivers now have new tables, chairs, and couches, and a new kitchenette area with recently installed cabinets, a new sink, and paint should be arriving soon,” he stated.
As two full shifts of drivers share a resting space between scheduled routes, the busy depot serves as an area of reset, until the next scheduled ride. Before the space upgrades, many drivers preferred resting in their personal vehicles rather than lounging in the depots.
“It’s starting to feel more inviting and makes the drivers want to be there,” says Michael Burger, east side Assistant Depot Manager.
“The upgrade of the breakroom helped us have better organization, standardized our equipment, and gave us a more professional appearance,” he added.
The transportation department spent approximately $200,000 of the MacKenzie Scott gift on renovations to the lounging area along with needed infrastructure repairs. The drivers are still highly anticipating the installation of computer workstations in both the east and west side buildings.
“The MacKenzie Scott investment in the bus depots has definitely been a morale booster,” said Executive Director of Transportation, Eric Taylor.
“Our drivers are front-line workers. They see the students first in the morning and say goodbye at the end of the school day. They weren’t receiving the recognition they deserved. The MacKenzie Scott gift provided the opportunity for the District to show some deserved appreciation to our staff members who transport students to and from school.”