Dennis “Denny” Gross will be stepping down as transportation director for Mount Vernon Schools at the end of this school year, drawing to a conclusion 23 years as a driver for the school district.
Prior to working as a school bus driver, Gross worked for Schwan’s Foods for more than 30 years.
“I joined as a bus driver for the district part-time after retiring from Schwan’s Foods,” Gross said.
Slowly, he took on other roles with the district, including filling the mechanic position and then stepping into the role of transportation director when that position opened up.
For Gross, the favorite part of the job has been “being around kids as a bus driver.”
“I’ve just really enjoyed my time working with kids,” Gross said. “I’ve now been hauling students that are the children of people who used to be on my bus route.”
Gross said he was stepping down now to spend more time with his wife and family. He wanted to assure the community he will still be driving bus, but will step down as transportation director for the district.
He’s also looking forward to more time visiting his family in Western Iowa and Texas and spending more time on his favorite hobby, fishing.
Superintendent Greg Batenhorst commended Gross for his 23 years of service to the school district as a bus driver and transportation director after retiring from his previous job.
“There’s no way I could imagine doing a job like driving a bus for 23 years after retiring,” Batenhorst said. “We really appreciate everything you’ve done for the district in the past 23 years.”
At the retirement celebration, Gross was met with current and former bus drivers, had his favorite pie – pecan – and cupcakes shaped like a school bus.
And at 2:45 p.m., Washington Elementary School made the short trek to the bus barn to serenade Gross with “Wheels on the Bus” and present him with their colored artwork thanking him for being their bus driver.
“I didn’t expect all of this,” Gross said. “But those kids make really make it worth it every day.”
Superintendent Greg Batenhorst makes some comments about how thankful the district is for Denny Gross to be involved as transportation director over the years.