Mid-Prairie Superintendent Mark Schneider presents a plaque to retired bus driver Richard Grimm. Photo by Sam McIntosh.

A bus driver is one of the first faces a child sees every school day, and one driver made a great impact on Mid-Prairie students, families and staff. Richard Grimm retired in early October after nearly 18 years driving for Mid-Prairie.

Superintendent Mark Schneider, school board members, and staff shared their memories of Grimm at their recent board meeting.

Mid-Prairie West Elementary Principal Bill Poock shared his admiration of Grimm, “One of the things I know you do publicly every single day is that you pray for the kids that ride the bus that day. That was very impressive to me that you shared that, to say that you truly care about these kids. And I think that really is a testament to your compassion and caring attitude towards kids.”

Schneider shares how a family who recently open enrolled into the district reacted when hearing about Grimm’s retirement, “Just even within a month and a half’s time the amount of true sadness that they relayed to me that you were leaving, because in just that month and a half,. I mean, you had made a great impact on their children and they talked about you at night when they got home.”

Grimm was presented a plaque of honor, and he describes his last day on the bus, “The last day of school was tough. I got to my last stop but one little girl, she got in trouble one time during the year, but before she got off the bus she put her arms around me and she wouldn’t let go. She said, ‘Please don’t go,’ and it was hard.”

Grimm thanked the staff and board for their commitment to the district, and said he still prays for them and the students.