If you are certified to drive a school bus, the Wake County school system could use you right now.
Wake Schools Superintendent Tony Tata said the "real limiting factor" to operating the 41 of the 52 previously sidelined buses is lack of permanent drivers. Wake is getting by with steps such as using substitute drivers and team leaders. Mechanics who are certified bus drivers are also being paid overtime to get behind the wheel while the district hires and trains more permanent drivers.
But Tata said that it's still tight ensuring there are enough drivers each day to handle the new and readjusted routes.
"We are in a position where we are putting buses against problems and we need drivers," Tata said. "We have a driver for every bus. But on any given work force you've got 922 people. You know that people are going to have health issues or need time off or whatever."
Tata cited how he was at the Apex transportation district on Thursday. During the time he was there, five drivers called in sick.
Tata said they've reached out to Raleigh's Capital Area Transit to see if Wake can tap into their list of substitute drivers.
Tata said they're reaching out to private companies that provide bus drivers.
Tata said they're also calling every single substitute driver on the district's rolls to ask if they'd come on as a permanent driver.
In addition to saving money, school transportation staff had cited the difficulty filling bus driver positions to support the move to the new bus routing system.
Staff had cited how there's typically 30 to 50 vacant bus driver positions at any given time. The high stress, rigorous training, tough hours and low pay don't make the job very desirable.
(I'm not working today so response time will be slow to any questions.)
UPDATE
Wake has posted this link off its homepage advertising for more school bus drivers. The listing says the position provides a "competitive wage package" and a "great working environment."
Comments
Big problem
Wed, 09/12/2012 - 08:12 — SatchHHSeems like this is a huge, ongoing problem in WCPSS. What are they going to do to address it? Maybe JT can learn to drive a bus and then get a clue before he goes around bragging about cost savings in transportation.
Staff had cited how there's typically 30 to 50 vacant bus driver positions at any given time. The high stress, rigorous training, tough hours and low pay don't make the job very desirable.
And folks - because some of you on this blog are so predictable, please don't say that strict neighborhood schools are the answer. Because...1) BEFORE this year's fiasco, most schools primarily drew from close geo areas, so mostly neighborhoods slready 2) the diversity busing and magnet busing is well worth the money when contrasted with the costs (morally, educationally, financially) of having segregated, high poverty schools in our county - even more so than now. and 3) the vast majority of the transportation funds come from the state, so saving money on buses, while it saves the state money, does not put money back into WCPSS classrooms (contrary to the propaganda put out by our republican board members), and ultimately costs WCPSS more because we have to pay for retention pay, etc. from our own coffers.
Read more here: http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/wake-county-school-system-looking-for-more-school-bus-drivers#storylink=cpy
1) BEFORE this year's
Thu, 09/13/2012 - 00:28 — jeffrey11) BEFORE this year's fiasco, most schools primarily drew from close geo areas, so mostly neighborhoods slready
Is that the message you got when WCPSS claimed that 90% of students lived within 5 radial miles of a school? You do realize that 5 radial miles encompasses an area of over 78 square miles, don't you? You do realize that you can draw a circle with a 5 mile radius just about anywhere in the country and include 10-20 elementary schools alone, right? You do know that the average student lives with 1.8 mile of and elementary school, don't you? Uh, what's that? You didn't realize that? You drank the kool-aid? Thought so.
the vast majority of the transportation funds come from the state, so saving money on buses, while it saves the state money, does not put money back into WCPSS classrooms
Yet somehow, decisions made by WCPSS were able to save the district about $10 million (albeit, slightly less now with more buses back on the road). $10 million equals about 150-200 teachers. You want to correct your statement, don't you?
You are right!
Wed, 09/12/2012 - 14:17 — FSandYOUStrict neighborhood schools are not the answer.
Making parents accountable, unless you are poor, have no car or have a disability, for transporting IS the answer!
Want a compromise? Sure.
At a minimum the walk zone should be doubled! If not tripled!!
Didn't see this anywhere but
Mon, 09/10/2012 - 10:31 — tropicalgirlDidn't see this anywhere but Wiley Elementary and Partnership Elementary are on a code yellow lockdown and Broughton High is currently on a code red lockdown due a shooting in Cameron Village this morning - a woman was killed and the shooter is still at large. This is being reported by WRAL and NBC-17.
Raleigh Charter is also
Mon, 09/10/2012 - 10:32 — tropicalgirlRaleigh Charter is also reportedly on lockdown.