With a smile on his face, he greets the students as they walk up the steps of the bus. Few say hi, but it doesn’t matter to him. Whether people respond or not, he’ll keep greeting in the mornings and afternoons with the same smile.

After three years of driving students to and from school, Russell Roemer knows what to expect, unlike the first day of his job.

“On the first day, I was taken back a little because of the behavior of the students,” Roemer said. “There’s not a whole lot of control as a bus driver.”

Roemer doesn’t just drive high school students, he also gives middle and elementary schoolers a ride.

“Elementary schoolers can be disruptive, but, of course, that doesn’t go for all of them,” Roemer said. “Middle schoolers are very disrespectful, but that’s not for all of the age groups. Eighth graders can be mellow and a lot more collected.”

Even if Roemer’s time can be difficult, students do tend to enjoy who drives them.

“I like my bus driver,” freshman Ciana Cook said. “He’s pretty laid back with us. When he’s in a good mood, he’d even tell us a joke or two.”

Everybody’s bus driver is at least a little different, though.

“She cares for all of the bus students,” freshman Sarah Olson said. “Sometimes she interacts with our conversations. She’s also sweet and nice too.”

Just because they think their drivers are nice and collected, doesn’t mean that the ride itself is always pleasurable.

“The bus is fine because I have a friend on the bus, but it sucks when we have to sit three to a seat,” Olson said. “I’m always smooshed against the window or stuck in between two other people.”

However, not everybody’s experience on the bus is the same.

“Riding the bus is pretty okay to me,” Cook said. “I really don’t like some of the people on my bus, but it gets me where I need to go on time.”

For everything that the bus driver’s go through, they still have patience and are friendly.

“I like driving high school students,” Roemer said. “They’re the calmest, meekest ones. Although y’all don’t talk too much, it’s still nice to say hi.”