CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Six months into the school year, the Chesapeake City Public Schools are still trying to get enough bus drivers for a smooth ride.
Currently, the district has 27 bus driver vacancies. Now, its offering new incentives to attract more people to apply and become drivers.
Until those positions are filled, the shortage has caused a headache for students, parents and grandparents like Darlene Hall.
“The kids are frustrated,” said Hall. “Sometimes it picks the kids up late sometimes it drops them off late.”
Dr. Karen Cooper-Collins, Human Resources Administrator for Chesapeake City Public Schools, said they intend to fill the vacancies as soon as possible.
“It is extremely critical that we fill these vacancies so we can just make sure our kids get to school,” said Cooper.
The district is offering singing bonus incentives.
Drivers with a Class B Commercial Driver’s license can earn $500 when they sign on. Those without a license are being offered a $250 sign-on bonus
and the district is willing to provide them with training.
The drivers will have to stay with the district for six months.
Until those vacancies are filled, Cooper said the district has had to make adjustments.
Bus drivers have doubled up, increasing the capacity of students on each bus.
Hall said the shortage has affected her grandkids.
“There’s overcrowding on the buses because of it, so now you’re risking the safety of the kids,” said Hall.
In other cases, children have to wait at the bus stop until their bus has finished its first route. When they have to wait for it to make its way back to pick them up, they get home later.
Hall said the incentives are a first step toward fixing the problem.
“I’m glad they’re doing something, but I don’t think they’re doing enough,” said Hall.
Hall suggested the district increase pay for bus drivers.
The district has proposed a 3% pay increase in next year’s school budget for all employees including bus drivers.
Final action on the budget will happen on May 23rd, 2019.
Click here to apply.