The Cumberland County School System is facing an urgent need for bus drivers. The board learned in their special called meeting last night that there is presently 65 full time drivers and 5 substitutes. To be fully staffed, the system needs 72 full time drivers and 10 substitutes.

The current recruiting tools used includes a reimbursement of $300 for the license a driver needs to operate the bus. If the driver has a bus license, they would get $300 upon signing on with the Cumberland County School System. There is 40 hours of paid training. Regular substitute drivers who answer every call every time in a one month period would qualify for a $100 bonus.

Many felt the current recruiting tools is not enough.

The suggestions last night included a $1,000 sign on bonus for new full time drivers who stay at least 90 days that would be retroactive to July 1, 2019. A $150 safety and attendance bonus was also recommended. That includes no absences, no accidents or verified complaints. The safety bonus would be issued quarterly and only full time drivers would qualify.

One major concern from the school board was once a driver finishes the 90 days and gets the $1,000 bonus, there is nothing stopping them from leaving and going to a higher paying job.

In the last 6 months, 32 individuals filled out applications to be school bus drivers in Cumberland County. Only 6 followed up while the others found other employment.

Presently an entry level school bus driver in Cumberland County gets $45 a day they work. Then a slight raise would be in effect for every year the driver serves the school system.

The school board then discussed moving the $1,000 bonus to the end of the school year instead of after 90 days.

However, some drivers in attendance for the meeting expressed the desire for not only more pay but help with some children that cause trouble on the buses. One driver in attendance told the board he can’t see everything that happens on a bus but an attendant riding on board could.

The board reviewed a bus attendant pilot program that would let the driver focus on safety while the attendant would keep an eye on the students on board.

The school board took action on one way to help bus drivers financially. The board approved to cover the cost of the DOT physical for existing school bus drivers in Cumberland County. The cost would be in the range of $75 up to the amount on the receipt for the physical per driver. That would be covered from the $14,000 the school system took in from advertisements from companies on the school buses.

The school board did not stop there.

“We need to come up with a short term answer to this problem and during that time meet with the bus drivers to see how to make it better for them,” said school board member Robbie Safdie.

The board then approved a second motion calling for a $500 incentive bonus after the driver completes one year of service. That would be pro-rated if a driver is hired during the school year instead of at the beginning.

School board member Tony Brock said we need to look at monthly bonuses as well as yearly bonuses soon.

The school board will revisit the issue soon and look at further incentives for the school bus drivers.