The Transportation Departments of the Pine Valley and Cassadaga Valley central school districts spent a recent morning collaborating ahead of the start of the 2024-2025 academic year.  

The group enjoyed breakfast at PVCS prior to embarking on a Scavenger Hunt around Chautauqua County during the last week of August 2024. The districts blended teams, received riddles and clues then hit the road to steer toward multiple destinations.  

The training incorporated driving tasks that may not be required every day, but which should be practiced to strengthen their skills. The drivers and attendants reported back  to receive clue words.  They were instructed to indicate hazards they encountered on their drives. Attendants are an extra set of eyes and ears on the bus; although they’re not driving, attendants are a vital part of safety. Including this in the hunt kept team members focused and working together.  

The teams stopped at six locations, described more than 25 hazards, and maneuvered the buses through multiple driving skills. They worked on highway driving, roundabouts, straight-line backing, railroad crossings, parallel parking, and more.  

“This was a great opportunity to build professionalism, positive culture, and community for both districts,” says Mrs. Kristin Sercu, shared Transportation Supervisor for PVCS and CVCS. “I hope we will have more shared training opportunities.”  

The day of collaborative professional development concluded with the teams using their words to build the statement “How will I change the world today?”  This was a focus for leadership teams at both PVCS and CVCS. The teams ended the scavenger hunt at the CVCS bus garage by enjoying a potluck lunch together.