Joy ride Jean Chapman, who has been driving a school bus for 21 years, says children are more disciplined on the bus than when she first sat behind the wheel (photo by Tina Gohr). Driving a school bus isn't nearly as bad as you might believe By Tina Gohr News-Chronicle It was perfect to see a spattering of bright yellow leaves dancing to the ground against the glossy yellow hue of Jean Chapman's school bus. The bus was parked perfectly parallel to the curb in front of her Ashwaubenon home under a canopy of the only tree giving up its matching yellow leaves. Chapman has been driving her 60-passenger bus for Lamers Bus Line for an exasperating 21 years. Acquaintances remark that she must be some sort of saint to have enough patience for exuberant kids testing adult authority. "They got it all wrong,'' pleads Chapman, who chauffeurs anywhere from special needs groups to high schoolers, with Head Start and grade schoolers in between, on a daily basis for Green Bay schools. "I've done waitress work in my early days that is more nerve-wracking than driving a bus,'' she says with a laugh. "It's not nearly as bad (driving a bus) as people think. I'm amazed of what people conceive what this job is and what it is really about. "They are well-behaved,'' she reassures. "They are not loud at all. In fact, I haven't heard a nasty word in years and years.'' Chapman credits stricter safety issues involving motor vehicles for her passengers' mannerisms. "Especially the smaller kids, they sit in their seats better because of the seat-belt laws," she said. "Parents are putting their children in seat belts, and now when they get on the bus they buckle up and stay put. It's all business on the bus. Very seldom do you have to tell someone to sit down.'' Wednesday morning, the riders practiced a bus evacuation drill in which the children departed the bus through the back door and were instructed about the above escape hatch. "And should there be an accident and evacuation, the children are to gather in one particular spot away from the bus (not scattered) and stay there until further instruction,'' she said. "The older (high school) kids, you can hear a pin drop,'' she added with a laugh. "I think it's because they are still sleepy in the morning. But they are some of the nicest kids you'll ever want to meet.'' It is more likely to hear constant chatter behind her, which doesn't bother Chapman at all. "After a while you are so concerned about the bus that you tune out the talking,'' she said. "Lamers stands behind their drivers, and the schools support the drivers. If there would ever be a problem we would write up a referral. It's been years that I had to do this.'' And if the written warning doesn't help, a small camera is installed on the bus. Chapman's day begins with the sound of the alarm at 5:10 a.m. She does the best she can to give herself an uplifting appearance. It wasn't too long ago that it wasn't that easy to accomplish. She had a tumor removed, however, and has been pronounced cancer-free. Chapman is currently undergoing precautionary chemotherapy and radiation. It was a scary experience; something she would not want to go through again. She isn't comfortable talking about it. But the outpouring from friends has been inspiring. "A lot of the parents on my route called with encouragement," she said. "I'll never forget the welcome I received from the CSC (Community Service Center) after I was sick for a while. They were hugging me ... I was overwhelmed; I was ready to cry. I never had so many people so happy to see me. They were asking me if I was glad the cancer was out of my body and driving the bus, and I said, 'Yes...I...am!'"