Moving Vermont’s Children Is Bet-Cha Transit

By Cookie Steponaitis

photo by Photo Provided

Many may remember singing as young children, ‘the wheels on the bus go round and round. All through the town.’ Part of school for thousands of Vermont children includes riding a school bus every day and parents thinking about the coming school year, planning schedules, packing lunches and having the students ready for the bus. Meeting the needs of eight supervisory unions are the drivers and equipment of Bet-Cha Transit.
    Student Transportation of America bought Bet-Cha Transit in 2002 and retained the locally known Bet-Cha Transit name. Student Transportation of America is the third largest private school bus carrier in the United States and Canada with headquarters in Wall, New Jersey. Bet-Cha Transit has an experienced office crew and excellent line of communication with the schools they work with and offers coverage from Charlotte south to Danby with the main terminal located in Middlebury and a satellite terminal in Fair Haven.
    Bet-Cha supervisor Don Kirby remarked, “First and foremost we are a school bus company that provides towns with affordable transportation to and from school. We also take care of all their field trips and sports transportation.”  At present Bet-Cha handles 110 contracted runs each day and covers thirty towns.  Bet-Cha offers private charter services to the general public and is also looking for drivers.  Don Kirby explained, “We offer excellent part time employment. This is a great job for stay at home moms, dads, retired persons or anyone just looking for part time work.” Both locations have a dispatcher on duty and Bet-Cha is ready and looking forward to the start of the new school year. And with thousands of miles each year, the wheels on the bus do go round and round bringing Vermont children to and from school safely.