​Looking Back: August 2023 Calendar Page - The Big Yellow Bus

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society


This photograph was chosen for August because students now go “back to school” in August. When the picture was taken, school began after Labor Day in September. This gave young men more days to help their fathers with the crops and girls more days to help their mothers with canning the garden vegetables. Today, the school calendar seems to be tied to ending the first semester before the winter break. 

Mr. Frantz’s Bus Route, 1940
 

This photograph first appeared in Valley News on July 1, 2021. Since that time, I have learned a bit more about transportation in the Grain Valley School District.

Transportation began in the fall of 1937 when Mr. T. D. Peal purchased two buses which he contracted to the school district. The drivers were Mr. Peal a local feed salesman and Mr. Ray Frantz, the owner and operator of a gas station and a bulk fuel oil delivery business.

Each bus had two morning and evening routes. One driver first picked up the rural students south of town with a second route of students living near the school. The second driver also had two routes on the north side. (They didn’t mention how students living east and west got to school!)

To my surprise, this information comes from the 1942 Treasure Chest. It appeared near the back of the yearbook in the section labeled “advertising". It is titled “Transportation Report for Last 5 Years”.
  

The above table is a financial report of our transportation facilities.  These facilities have operated five years without a single minor or major accident and with a profit each year to the school district.
                                                                                                                   Very truly yours,
                                                                                                                                  T. D. Peal
Attested:  Jay Walker,
                   Superintendent of Schools
 

I would point out to you that disbursements probably included gasoline, motor oil, repairs and salary for both drivers – for an entire year! I wonder if that would be enough for one bus for one week today?

It is really too bad that schools must provide buses today that probably operate at less than 50% capacity! It is a high price to pay when we realize the number of parents that drive their children to school. Riding the bus was always a fun time in my day. We got to visit with our friends!