The Eagles Super Bowl appearance could affect student busing in Hamilton Township, the transportation coordinator announced this week.
“We have been advised by Sheppard Bus Service that there may be delays as a result of driver call outs on Monday and Tuesday after the Super Bowl,” said the letter from Steven Hinkeldey, posted on the district’s website. “Accordingly, we ask for your assistance in maintaining safety at the bus stops in the event that the buses arrive later than the normal pick-up time.”
It happened the last time the Eagles were in the Super Bowl, according to an email sent to district officials by John Sheppard.
In 2005, when the Eagles lost to the Patriots, the absentees were close to 20 percent, he said in the email obtained through an Open Public Records Act request.
The district was first notified of the potential for higher-than-normal call outs in an email from Sheppard human resources manager, Manny Cabegin.
“When if the Eagles should win the Super Bowl… please understand that Sheppard’s may have a higher than normal number of call offs on the 5th and 6th of February,” he wrote. “Sheppard’s does have a large staff of cover drivers and we hope that this will not cause too many delays if any.”
Transporation Coordinator Sharen Dever at first took issue with what she saw as a “holiday” the company was allowing its drivers.
“How about I send you all the runs you do for us and your staff call the parents?” she asked.
That prompted John Sheppard to clarify that the company was not giving these employees the day off, but planning for the worst-case scenario.
“It would be irresponsible to not alert our customers of possible issues that may arrive after a local sports team is in a championship,” he wrote.
That is what happened after the 2005 Super Bowl appearance and the Phillies’ World Series victory in 2008.
“Should an employee call off Monday morning, discipline procedures will take effect, not excluding suspensions and loss of bonuses,” he wrote.
But he also noted that the celebrations could include “artificial means” or run “late into the night on the eve of a school day.”
“With these possible scenarios, a good employee knows their limitations to not become a hazard on the roadways putting your students at risk,” Sheppard wrote.
The company will be bringing in extra staff to prepare for the high call-out potential, he wrote.
Meanwhile, the public letter to parents urges them to call transportation if their child’s bus has not arrived within 20 minutes of the normal pick-up time.
