By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Mark Pagenkopf II of rural Lincolnville has joined the Centre schools staff as transportation director.

A 2003 Centre graduate, Pagenkopf spent 14 years as a mechanic at the Marion branch of Kansas Department of Transportation.

“This was a new opportunity,” he said. “I have a strong background in automotive, and I felt I could do this job.”

A bonus is that he and his wife, Julie, and two children recently moved from Lincolnville to his boyhood farm less than a mile from the school. His day starts at 6 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m.

He oversees five regular bus routes – Tampa, Lincolnville, Pilsen, Burdick, and an east-of-Lincolnville route. He drives the Tampa route. Three other drivers also are recent hires.

Pagenkopf has had to make a few changes to facilitate timely stops. He manages and schedules runs for a 14-vehicle fleet, including six full-size busses, four Chevrolet Suburbans, and a Chevrolet Impala.

He also schedules repairs and maintenance and is available to assist drivers with emergencies. He estimates that half of his day is spent on the bus and half is spent on his other responsibilities.

“I am enjoying the job,” Pagenkopf said. “There’s no time to be bored. You’re always busy.”