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District Battles School Bus Driver Shortage

By MARC VALERO | Highlands Today

Published: October 20, 2007

SEBRING — Due to a shortage of drivers, school bus operators are having to double up on routes causing late arrivals at schools.

To try to curb the shortage of bus drivers, the School Board of Highlands County will again consider suspending the high school diploma requirement.

Currently about seven to eight driver positions are unfilled, Transportation Director David Solomon said Friday. The district has 109 driver positions, which includes a number of backup/substitute drivers, who fill in during sick leave and vacations.

"When somebody takes leave or whatever, that really puts us in a bind," Solomon said. "Right now we have backup drivers and we have some people running double runs.

"You wind up getting to the school late and our primary mission is to get them to school on time. That's why we are trying to recruit more drivers."

The driver shortage has become an ongoing challenge for the district. The school board approved in April 2005 a waiver of the high school diploma/GED (General Educational Development) requirement for two years.

A lot of people can drive, but they might not have their GED, he said.

To be considered for employment, driver applicants must pass a background check, have a good
driving record and hold a CDL (commercial driver's license). Also, they must pass a physical and dexterity test and take 40 hours of training, which includes classroom and driving components.

Salary is around $11 an hour, with a 4½ hour minimum work day for full-time drivers.

"Most of them who do apply actually have a high school diploma," said Mike Averyt, assistant superintendent of business operations. "I think there are very few who we hire who don't have it.

"It's always tough to get drivers; it's a unique position."

School districts nationwide have struggled to fill bus driver positions in recent years.

The American Federation of Teachers cited the following reasons for the shortage of drivers and cafeteria workers: irregular hours (usually less than full time), seasonal schedules (little or no work in the summer), relatively low pay (both within the school system and compared to many similar private-sector jobs) and tough working conditions (especially for bus drivers, whose unresolved complaints about poor student discipline could fill volumes).

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