Help Retain School Bus Drivers During a Shortage

https://www.wusa9.com/video/news/local/whats-driving-the-school-bus-driver-shortage-a-veteran-driver-weighs-in/65-06aebf10-9890-4580-a0d3-9d7b4e90559d?jwsource=cl 

Hi, my name is Kim and I have been driving a school bus for 18 years. Throughout this time, I will admit, there were times I wanted to quit. Mainly, because of the wages and then because of the behavior of the children. There were times when I had to sell my belongings and walk to work to save gas just to make it to the next payday.

Do you know the real reasons why there is a nationwide shortage of school bus drivers? It's not just about the pay. School Bus drivers go through many layers just to be able to sit in the drivers seat of a school bus. First, you have to pay for a physical and that's about $100.00 . Then you have to study the Commercial Motor Vehicle handbook to get your CDL learners permit, that's $90.00 dollars in my state. Then, you have to go through training, on your own that's about $800.00, company sponsored training pay is around $13.50 an hour for up to 6 weeks of training. Then you take a driving test.

School bus drivers MUST meet 3 qualifications: a clean driving record, no criminal history and be drug-free. Many people can do 2 of the 3. But it MUST be 3 out of 3. Young people like to smoke weed and speed so they have points on their license and fail drug tests. Older folk  may have license issues or may have an arrest record. So as you can see, we don't just hire ANYBODY to be around the children. And that is what is contributing to the shortage nationwide. Those that make it through to become school bus drivers are highly qualified and meet standards that many others cannot. Therefore, they deserve a better living wage. School bus drivers are also counselors and referees to the children they transport. School bus drivers also must pass a yearly physical and do continuing education training every school year. Most people do not know school bus drivers go through so much training.

You may see where school districts are hiring at $19.00 to $22.00 an hour to start. But did you know that most school districts pro-rate transportation employees pay? And that they are only paid for 10-months out of the year? This is because of the many school holidays, Thanksgiving, winter and spring break. In order for pay to be consistent throughout the school year, it is pro-rated. So, while $22.00 an hour looks like good starting pay, once it is pro-rated and taxed it comes out to be significantly less. So the pay is also another reason for the school bus driver shortage. The behavior of the children is also a factor for many new drivers leaving and going to the local transit services. 

COVID-19 has also had an impact on the shortage. Many drivers eligible to retire have left amid concerns for their own safety. Recruiting  new drivers and retaining current drivers has been especially difficult during the pandemic.

With your donations I would like to give transportation employees an incentive to stay on the job by paying electric bills, car notes, rent and other monthly bills. Being able to save the money from an electric bill for 3 months could boost their savings and give them some breathing room for the months ahead. I would like to create a non-profit to provide these services to school bus drivers nationwide and help end this bus driver shortage. Many districts are giving hiring bonuses for new drives but the drivers who have hung in there for many years and have done double routes need to be recognized and rewarded as well.

Please help with this effort. My co-workers are stressed and overworked and need to know you care about them and appreciate what they do.