ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 23, 1995 TAG: 9512250009
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
Denise Lacey loves buses.
"There's something about driving large vehicles," she says wistfully, "the reactions I get when I tell people I drive a bus."
The soft-spoken, 28-year-old doesn't quite fit the mold of a bus driver, much less of Montgomery County's new transportation director. But, there she is, sitting in the county school's transportation office on Church Street, answering phone calls from concerned parents as the dispatch radio blares in the background.
"I think she's really going to work out," said driver Judy Yon. "She has walked into one whale of a mess, but she seems to have her head on her shoulders."
Lacey was hired a month ago from Blackburg Transit to replace Jerry Mabry, who left for another job. She is the fourth director in four years and faces a disgruntled work force and a lack of substitutes.
Though her job description spans four pages, Lacey said her main focus is creating a safe environment for students. That includes retaining experienced drivers and attracting more substitutes.
Lacey said she understands the bus drivers' request to the School Board for retirement and health benefits. She said she's looking into incentive programs her budget could handle - such as recognitions for perfect attendance and safe driving - to help boost morale as well.
Her efforts to improve safety also include listening to parents and drivers.
"I do get calls everyday from parents. I love to hear about it - the more feedback I get the better I can address" the problems, she said.
As for her fascination with buses, it all started when she was a freshman at Virginia Tech.
She traveled with the musical group New Virginians as a technician and always asked to drive the bus.
Later on, she got a part-time job driving buses for Blacksburg Transit and two months later was moved to the lead driver post. After graduating, she worked as a BT supervisor for about two years before being hired away by the school system.
She plans to go back to Tech in the fall to start a master's degree in business administration - with a focus on transportation, of course.
"I've got a career playing with buses," she said. "What more could I ask for?"
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Laceyby CNB