Six Pattonville transportation department employees participated in the 2023 Missouri Association for Pupil Transportation (MAPT) Annual School Bus Safety Competition in Camdenton, Missouri.

Greg Zemblidge repeated as champion in the individual competition. This is the second time a Pattonville School District driver has won the event and the third consecutive state championship for Zemblidge (2019, 2022-2023).

Along with Zemblidge winning the individual title, Jim Dickerson finished in second and Zenaida Fleming received fourth place.

Pattonville School District entered two groups of three drivers into the team event. Zemblidge, Regina Dunmire and Nichole Webb placed second overall in the state competition. The other team consisted of Dickerson, Fleming and Brenda Vitale.

The School Bus Safety Competition features three tests and 10 driving challenges.

Contestants complete a written examination with a surprise question testing their knowledge of laws, rules and regulations required to operate a school bus, a pre-trip inspection test forcing a driver to find six defects on a bus in six minutes, and 10 driving challenges including railroad crossing test, parallel parking and elementary student loading.

Zemblidge qualified for and will represent Pattonville School District and the state of Missouri at the next School Bus Driver International Safety Competition. There were no international competitions held in 2020 to 2023.