Former driver will oversee district's bus operations

8/15/2007

PERRYSBURG - For a woman of small stature, Ellen Moser now has some big challenges.

Big, yellow challenges.

The 43-year-old Perrysburg native started her new job this month as transportation supervisor for Perrysburg schools.

Though she's been with the district since 1994 as a teacher's aid, bus driver, and dispatcher, this new job places her in charge of getting Perrysburg's 4,500 students safely to and from their classrooms each day.

"When I became a bus driver, I did it basically because people told me I couldn't do it. I loved it. I loved being with the kids," Mrs. Moser said. "I love every aspect of this job. I grew up here, and I just felt it was a big plus."

Mrs. Moser started her new job as transportation supervisor Aug. 1, replacing Debra Parkhill, who resigned in June. Mrs. Moser was the unanimous choice of the school board and administration, and will be paid the same salary, $47,868, as Ms. Parkhill, said Aura Norris, Perrysburg's director of human resources.

There were 66 applicants for the transportation supervisor's job, including five internal applicants, Ms. Norris said.

Ms. Norris said Mrs. Moser was the clear choice among those who applied because of her knowledge of the community and what she wanted to do.

"She knew the people in the district and had a better understanding of what needed to be done," Ms. Norris said. "She impressed us because she had clear, written goals of what she wanted to do to make the transportation department more professional, more responsive to parents and the community."

Mrs. Moser said she's had to hit the ground running in her new role.

"The biggest challenge has been the deadlines. I'm doing a whole summer's worth of work in eight days time," Mrs. Moser said.

Under its labor contract, the district's 34 bus routes had to be published by this week to allow the bidding process to take place, she said.

She also must hire additional bus drivers to fill out her work force in time for the school year to start on Aug. 29.

Ms. Norris said she s been impressed with how seamlessly Mrs. Moser has adapted to her new role.

It s all her baby now, Ms. Norris said.

Contact Larry P. Vellequette at: lvellequette@theblade.com