Crump transports to transporation

By Rick Elmore

Special to

The Greenup Beacon

Tommy Crump has big shoes to fill.

In June, Crump became the new Director of Transportation for the Greenup County School District. He replaced 17-year-school district veteran Jack McCleese who passed away April 27.

Crump said he’s still learning about his new position; one he hadn’t really considered taking.

“Honestly, I don’t know how I ended up in the position,” said Crump, 58. “(Superintendent Traysea) Moresea said she needed somebody, and she asked me to come down and talk to her. She’s a hard person to turn down.”

The only problem with that is Crump already had a job. In fact, it’s a job he still has.

Crump is the principal at Argillite Elementary where he’s worked for the past 15 years.

“If (Moresea) has confidence in me then with the guidance of the district I’ll be confident I can do the job,” Crump said. “I’ve got a lot of trust in her. She’s a very good superintendent.”

Moresea said Crump met all of the requirements of the candidate the school board was looking to take the job held by McCleese.

“Mr. McCleese’s was a sudden passing and it took a very long time to find someone to replace him,” Moresea said. “Tom has 30 years of experience in our district. When we went looking for someone to fill that position, he expressed some interest in the job.

“We wanted someone who knows the drivers, knows the roads in the district, who has familiarity with the bus routes. His name kept coming to the top of our list.”

As director of transportation, Crump’s knowledge of the bus routes is top qualification. Additionally, he will also have to know how the district consumes its fuel with the buses, know the safety drills, plus arrange for drivers to be available to cover getting teams to games and other after-school activities. He’s also responsible for arranging for field trips, though Moresea pointed out that with COVID-19 that wouldn’t be a likely issue for this year.

“We’re in a transition with this COVID-19,” Crump said. “We’re all working to get the schools open and transportation is a big part of it.”

The school district has purchased battery-powered electrostatic sprayers to dispense disinfectant or sanitizer solution. Each seat on every bus was mandated to be cleaned between each trip, but the sprayers will allow that job to be done quicker, Moresea said. Additionally, each student in the school district will be given neck gaiters as well to wear while on the bus.

The district’s buses also have to be inspected each morning by the drivers for needed repairs. Those reports then have to be passed along to the mechanics and Crump must conduct a follow-up to ensure the job was completed.

Students who enjoy snow days will count on Crump’s assessment of the roads during inclement weather to decide if schools remain open, are delayed or given the day off.

Moresea said she and Crump will communicate with one another during those times to make the decision together. Moresea said, though, she will rely on Crump’s assessment to make the right call.

“Plus, there’s a lot of laws and regulations that have to be followed,” the superintendent said. “There’s paperwork that has to be completed. We hate to lose Tom at Argillite Elementary and he’ll be tough to replace there.”

Moresea said the search to replace Crump at Argillite Elementary is underway and should be concluded by the end of the first full week in August.

Crump said as principal at the elementary school, he not only worked closely with the school’s staff, but it was in that position that he got to know the bus drivers.

“Being a principal helps,” he said. “Drivers come in the school, so you develop a rapport with them. Our drivers are a vital asset, and I want to try to build a relationship with each one of them.”

Crump estimates there are 30-40 drivers working for the district and three substitutes. He said he would like to boost the number of the latter in case any of the regular drivers fall ill. Crump said he is also pursuing a commercial driver’s license so he can drive if needed.

A 1979 graduate of Greenup County High School, Crump has been married for 28 years to his wife Veronica, who works as a radiologist. They have a 21-year-old daughter who is attending college at Eastern Kentucky University and a 25-year-old son living in Atlanta.

“I’m not ready to retire and my wife still has a few years she wants to work,” Crump said. “My heart is in Greenup County and I don’t plan on going anywhere.”