Independence Local Schools on the hunt for more bus drivers

by Emily Canning-Dean

A shortage of bus drivers is not a new problem in school districts throughout the region, but up until recently, Independence Local Schools had remained unaffected.

“We were kind of smiling behind the scenes because we weren’t having those issues, but I think we knew it was eventually going to happen,” Assistant Superintendent Tom Dreiling said.

Dreiling said he thinks Independence kept the shortage at bay for as long as it has because the district has a small fleet with only 9.5 square miles to cover and roughly 1,050 students. A number of the drivers have also been with the district for many years.

“Just a couple of days ago, I was talking to a driver who started with us when her kids were in school,” he said. “Her kids are now 30, but she is still with us.”

But over the last couple of years, longtime drivers have retired or moved away.

“Some of the drivers knew we needed help and didn’t want to leave us completely, so they are still working mornings for us,” he said.

The district currently has seven full-time drivers and four part-time drivers.

“Ideally, we need two full-time drivers, but two afternoon drivers would at least allow us to breathe,” Dreiling said.

Transportation Director Francine Kane said eligible applicants must be 18 years old and must have had a valid driver’s license for at least two years. All applicants will be subject to a background check and a drug test.

“Then we send them to class five days a week for three hours a day,” Kane said. “Then they would go get a temporary Class B CDL license. There is also an airbrake test, a school bus test and a passenger test. Then they come back and work with our onboard instructor who will train them to learn maneuvers and student procedures.”

The whole process takes around two months and Kane said the district covers the cost of the training and the tests.

The pay range for bus drivers in Independence is $20.66 per hour to $28.16 per hour. Drivers typically work between 6:15 a.m. and 8:45 a.m., and 2 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.

“There are also a lot of opportunities for day and evening field drips,” Kane said. “Drivers also take the band and football teams to games and drop them off, then usually they go get dinner together and come back to pick them up.”

Dreiling said he thinks many parents in the district don’t realize how much of a problem the bus driver shortage is becoming. The district previously had 10 bus routes but currently maintains nine due to consolidation. He also added that there are a couple of members of the maintenance and custodial staff who have CDL licenses and fill in when needed.

“Francine has filled in a lot herself when we need routes covered, but that takes away from her other work and for the other staff members it takes away from their other responsibilities,” he said. “By the time we get to winter, we aren’t going to be able to spare the custodial and maintenance staff.”

Once winter hits, Dreiling said current bus drivers might have to double up on routes meaning students might be waiting for as long as 30 minutes before a bus picks them up to take them home.

Anyone interested in applying to become a bus driver can find more information on the school district’s website and can also contact Kane directly at 216-642-5853. ∞