Monday, 10 November 2014

Local school districts cope with shortage of bus drivers

  Area school district transportation directors say once they get someone hooked on driving a bus, they'll likely be around for the next 20 years or so.  Lately, however, they've been having problems getting people to take the bait.  "This is probably one of the worst year's we've had trying to find bus drivers," said Jim Bonfield, director of transportation for Duneland Community Schools for 13 years.  The shortage of bus drivers isn't a new issue, but it is growing.  Portage Township Schools only this past week filled all their routes with contracted drivers, said superintendent Richard Weigel.  They've had to double buses, which combine routes that line up or flow into each other.  "When doubling takes place it is usually no more than 10 minutes difference for pick up in the morning. In the afternoon we do our best to get buses that can double, but unfortunately when we have several call offs, we have to have a bus go pick students up after their route. This does not happen often," he said, adding they currently have two additional drivers in training.  Bonfield said Duneland has had to double bus in the past.  Patrick Hubbard, director of transportation for Valparaiso Community Schools said they started the year down one driver, but have filled routes.  "The shortage is pretty much nationwide," he said, adding, in Valpo, the transportation administrators are licensed and can pick up a route when necessary.  Hubbard and Bonfield say the increased training required for bus drivers, to obtain a CDL with a school bus endorsement, has deterred some people from taking the job. The training can be costly and take some time to complete.  "There is more intense training, more intense testing, more like for semi-drivers," he said.  They both said it also takes a special person.  Drivers are part-time, often working two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. The job is more suited for retirees or moms than people looking for full-time work.  The pay isn't too bad. In Duneland, it averages $14.65 to $20 per hour.  That, said Bonfield, is about $13,000 a year for a full-time driver and many of his drivers work additional jobs.  In Valparaiso, the top driver is paid $22.50 an hour. In addition to regular routes, driving for field trips helps boost the take home pay, said Hubbard.  Some districts also offer benefits.  The two said it also takes a special kind of person, with a special personality to drive a school bus.  "You got to like kids, because if you don't like kids, you are in the wrong business," said Hubbard.  Bonfield said turnover usually isn't too bad. This year was an anomaly in that seven drivers quit after the beginning of the school year.  "Very few people have done it a year and then say its is not for me. Most people stick around," said Hubbard, adding there are also benefits such as having the summers and school breaks off.

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