Bus monsters unleashed

Jeff Benson

There were Scooby-Doos and Snow Whites, Spongebobs and Spider-men.

There were dancers, punk rockers and princesses.

Friday morning proved an early Halloween, without being too scary,

as staff at the Newport-Mesa Unified School District bus yard made

sure 35 physically and mentally disabled kids got an early chance to

enjoy their holiday.

Special day students at California Elementary School received a

warm welcome from drivers and mechanics during the Halloween

trick-or-treat party. There, the children were greeted by a

blue-haired punk woman, vaguely resembling one of the drivers who

takes them to school every day.

Many of the drivers, mechanics and other bus staff on hand Friday

were in full costume and working off the clock. They adorned four

full-size buses with spider webs and balloons, gave the kids candy

and let them explore a bit.

“We always try to look out for the kids,” Lincoln Elementary

School bus driver -- and ‘50s dancer -- Doris Bustillos said. “That’s

our job, you know?”

The kids dressed up as well. Many of them hammed up their chosen

roles -- but for 10 of them, their wheelchairs weren’t part of the

costume.

Jessica Davis, 9, said she wore a tiara and a pink dress “cause I

like princesses -- all I need is a kingdom.”

California Special Day School principal Robyn Moses said many of

the students are autistic or have other physical or medical needs.

She said that despite the neutral expressions on their faces, though,

she could tell they enjoyed every bit of it.

“We’re really excited,” Moses said. “This is the first time

they’ve done this for us. They don’t even know us and don’t get to

see us outside of work, so this is really special. Plus, we get

candy.”

Newport-Mesa district transportation director Pete Meslin said he

and Harbor View Elementary School bus driver Kim Large organized the

event to coincide with that of a sister school, Lindbergh Elementary

School in San Diego.

“Many people in our society and our district don’t understand that

students with disabilities are still kids,” Meslin said. “This allows

them to enjoy Halloween when sometimes it’s not there in their home

settings. We’re doing this for the kids.”