MADISON – Roosevelt Carter Jr. enjoyed gestures of appreciation and best wishes for the future at a get-together for his retirement as Transportation Specialist for Madison City Schools.

Carter’s fellow workers, his wife Pam, Central Office staff, friends and other relatives gathered at the MCS transportation garage at 217 Westchester Drive on June 26 to wish farewell to him. Carter is retiring as supervisor for the transportation division of MCS.

MCS Superintendent Robby Parker, Madison Board of Education President Ranae Bartlett, Assistant Superintendent Eric Terrell and Joe Lightsey with Transportation South attended the party and thanked Carter for leading the bus service through some challenging times spurred by explosive growth, according to MCS Public Relations Manager John S. Peck said.

Carter will continue to serve in the job until the school board hires permanent successor.

In 2016, Carter came to Madison City Schools after a long career with Madison County Schools and the military. Carter replaced Bobby Jackson after his retirement from the position.

Carter led the MCS Transportation Department to receive a stellar state award for the second consecutive year in 2017. The Madison employees earned flawless ratings in mechanical inspection of school buses.

Madison’s transportation employees “scored perfectly on a state safety assessment of its bus fleet,” Peck said. “At the completion of the state’s rigorous school bus inspection, Madison City Schools received an exit report indicating zero major deficiencies in its bus fleet.”

In 2016, Madison earned a certificate of excellence from the Alabama Department of Education for achieving only one deficiency in 87 buses.

The Madison district transports about 5,000 students daily to 11 schools. Drivers log a combined 2,033 miles each day across 134 routes and a combined annual total of 723,000 miles, including field trips and athletic events.