School districts struggle to recruit bus drivers

The Washington Times ^ | 5-31-05 | Zinie Chen Sampson

[JZelle]

RICHMOND — Wanted: Applicants seeking the responsibility of transporting as many as 78 sometimes unpredictable students to school on a 38-foot-long vehicle through congested suburban traffic. Requirements: Obtain a commercial driver's license and extensive training (certification training), pass criminal background checks, a drug screening and a physical exam. Sincere affection for young people is strongly preferred, even when they're being unruly. Pay: Relatively low.

[JZelle]

How long before illegals are finally given this job?

[jtminton]

Bus driver hair required.

[Squawk 8888]

Well, I sure would avoid the job.

[tiamat]

There's not enough money in the world to make me take that job.

[blackdog]

Oddly enough, many in congress would fail the screening/hiring requirements as a schoolbus driver..........

Kind of telling about just how stupid Americans can be over our politicians.

Throw a credit check in there too and I think you could say most of congress...............

[petercooper]

They just need to get new buses.

[andyk]

Link

Pay: Relatively low...starting salary of $13,920, or $10.69 per hour ($14,153 annually and $10.87 hourly for the upcoming school year)...

Maybe they could consider a pay hike, if they can't fill the positions.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Maybe they could consider a pay hike, if they can't fill the positions.

That would cut into the adminstrators' salaries.

You can never have to many administrators.

[cherokee1]

I put myself thru school, in part, by driving school bus. Never had a problem w/unruliness in any meaningful sort of way and it was a good job. Just had a simple rule all the kids understood::: Sit down, stay down, shut up, keep your hands to yourself. Every kid I hauled was absolutely convinced I would throw his butt thru a window, open or not, if he broke the rules. Never had to. Always suspected the kids just liked to watch me drive---jammin'gears can be a bit entertaining. Don't see the problem----

[AppyPappy]

When I was in high school, ALL the bus drivers were high school seniors.

[cherokee1]

Out West, anyway, it still happens. Some of the extreme rural routes let the oldest driver keep the bus home at night. But it does seem like a "tighter rein" is required in metro areas where a stupider, less well mannered, passenger is liable to show up. But I still say pure fear will keep them in line.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I drove a 72 passenger school bus when I was a senior in high school and freshman in college. Never had a problem with the kids.
I do remember the Chafferer's License test. The bus was brand new and the 5 speed/2 speed transmission was stiff as a board. The Iowa State Trooper directed me through side alleys and narrow streets, then finally out on the highway. After I passed the drivers test he asked why I never drove over 45. I didn't tell him I couldn't get it out of low range.

[MamaTexan]

You can never have to many administrators.

That's the single MAJOR thing that's killing our schools.

[cherokee1]

I drove bigs, middles, and liddles and the "middles" were the "trip rigs"----they were the most fun to run çause they had lots of gears and Big Blocks---The driver could pretty much keep the kids pinned in their seats. If they actually had to hang on they stayed focused on the rules.

[wyattearp]

Sincere affection for young people is strongly preferred

I'm out.

[Republicus2001]

when will we require drug and alcohol testing for politicians?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I got the 5 speed/2 speed down pat after a few days.

[Republicus2001]

always wondered why there are no seat belts required in buses

[MinorityRepublican]

When I was in high school, ALL the bus drivers were high school seniors.

Yep, I talked to a middle aged guy in North Carolina, he told me that he started driving the school bus when he was 16 or 17. But of course back then, North Carolina was an agricultural state and people were civilized back then, apparently.

[Polyxene]

When we lived in Maryland, substitute bus drivers made more than substitute teachers.