Getting the kids to school

ST. MARYS - Dan Grothause followed his father's footsteps into a career that helps keep children safe. Grothause is the transportation supervisor for St. Marys schools, and one of his many duties is repairing buses.

"One of the nice things about being a mechanic is taking something that is broken and fixing it," Grothause said. "It's basically all I've done all my life. I basically started when I was 13 working on cars and on some school buses, helping my dad."

Grothause's father, Paul, drove and worked on buses at Fort Jennings.

"My dad and I and the family are real close," Grothause said. "He taught me everything I know. It's a good career. I've learned. I've enjoyed it. It served my dad his whole life and I have a brother who is a mechanic."

While Grothause's son, Michael, 4, is too young to approach a vehicle with a wrench, he is helping his dad with a hobby.

"Since I was a young kid, I've had model trains - Lionel trains," Grothause said. "We're in the process of doing a layout in the basement. It's an interesting project. It's great working with a 4-year-old.

"He gets very excited. I answer a lot of questions."

Grothause has been the transportation supervisor for the school district for 14 years. He began working for the district as a bus driver in 1988.

The district employs about 15 regular and 29 substitute drivers, covering approximately 180,000 miles of bus routes a year. It has 26 buses and three vans.

"When I drove, I loved being with the kids," Grothause said. "People are amazed when I say it was relaxing being with the kids and working with a great bunch of drivers. Now, I pride myself on providing a great service, a great safe ride for the kids. So do the other drivers. There's a lot of pride in this building."

Grothause does on occasion get to drive as a substitute.

The district recently had two teams place first and second at a regional bus rodeo in Sugarcreek. Three of its drivers, Dan Hollinger, Jim Rowen and Steve Opperman, qualified for the state competition in Westerville.

"Bus rodeos are great," Grothause said. "It's fun and it's a good learning experience."

Grothause and his wife, Sue, will celebrate 10 years of marriage in July.

Grothause is a member of Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 767, Wayne Street United Methodist Church, the Ohio School Bus Mechanic Association and the Ohio Association of Pupil Transportation. He is a 1983 graduate of Fort Jennings High School.