The first thing on Emil Brunazzi’s mind when he arrives for work at 5 a.m. is the safety of Deer Lakes students being bused to and from school.
The head mechanic of the department of transportation for Deer Lakes School District has been in charge of taking care of the district’s bus fleet for 34 years. His 45-minute commute from Irwin exemplifies his passion for maintaining safe transportation.
“It’s a fun place to work in. I get a lot of satisfaction working in the shop,” he said. “That’s where I feel at home.”
Brunazzi got his start as a mechanic at a school bus dealership, where he worked for 4½ years. He left that job to work at Deer Lakes in 1987. Between his job at the dealership and his time at Deer Lakes, Brunazzi has 38 years of experience repairing buses.
The Deer Lakes department of transportation is in charge of 27 buses and 17 routes. The shop performs preventative and routine maintenance on the buses. Brunazzi said the current bus fleet is the best he has seen throughout his time.
“That’s something I take a lot of pride in, and it’s not a one-man show,” he said, giving credit to the 20 employees that make up the department.
While Brunazzi’s work day typically ends at 1 p.m., he is available at all times in case of emergencies or unexpected work duties. His workday includes monitoring radios, handling scheduling and paperwork, and taking phone calls in addition to maintaining the school buses.
The industry has changed over the years with driver shortages becoming a challenge. Brunazzi said he has not faced any other obstacles because drivers are usually willing to go above and beyond.
“The drivers’ cooperation is one of the key things that makes it work for us right now,” he said.
Samantha Abate, director of transportation and assistant middle school principal, praised Brunazzi for his drive to go the extra mile for the district. That recognition isn’t just because this week is National School Bus Safety Week.
“He is always doing what he can to make sure students’ needs are being met,” Abate said.
Reflecting on his career, Brunazzi said he could not point out just one favorite memory. The school district that has become his second home has left many positive memories, he said.
“I do take pride that there are a lot of people here I have worked with … that are pleased with what I am doing,” he said. “I’m not doing anything differently. I am just being myself.”
Retirement is not far from Brunazzi’s mind as he realizes how physically demanding his job is on his body. He said he has been contemplating an early retirement to pursue traveling.
Leaving a job you’ve done for years is tough, he said.
“When I leave here, a lot of people I have worked with and this place, I will miss,” he said.
As for the commute, that’s a different story.
“I will not miss the drive,” he said, with a laugh.