Rob Thomson of Jupiter Gifts New School Bus to Special Needs Students Following Donation Drive
There’s a shiny, new ride at Jupiter Community High School
Jupiter, FL — The students got a special surprise in the form of a shiny, new school bus. The new bus was unveiled this past fall, following several months of donation drives and a significant contribution from Waterfront Properties Realtor Rob Thomson of Jupiter.
The Need for a Transport Upgrade
The primary benefactors of the community outreach are the kids who are part of the school’s “Exceptional Student Education Program.” Part of their learning experience is to undergo training and to familiarize themselves with jobs and careers. The students get to do this by going on field trips to local businesses within the area.
Over the past several years, the students have been making these frequent trips aboard a 22-year-old bus. The faded and rusty yellow behemoth has no wheelchair access and no air conditioning, among many other issues.
Although the district-approved bus managed to pass monthly inspections, it was not without its own set of challenges. These challenges did not go unnoticed, especially to teacher Helene McAfee, who had the task of driving the old school bus.
“I have students hired in Publix, T.J. Maxx, and at the Cinepolis movie theater. Often, it’s very difficult to get them in and out of some of their job sites,” McAfee said. “We have some students who use walkers, so we need to make sure we have someone at the bottom of the steps and the top of the steps to make sure they get in and out of the bus safely,” she added.
Distress Call and the Fundraising Effort
In 2019, the special needs students at Jupiter Community High School put out a call for help.
Thomson, a parent himself and a local realtor, was touched by the story. He took the role of the chief fundraiser and spearheaded the effort to realize the students’ dream of a transportation upgrade. “Why should the most challenged kids have the worst transportation?” Thomson said. “It’s just not safe, not to mention comfortable. They deserve something better but didn’t have this in the budget, and it had to get done.”
