Vidor Independent School District trustees on July 14 reviewed a package of proposals intended to address an ongoing shortage of school bus drivers that district staff said is affecting routing, student wait times and after-school activity transportation. Transportation staff member Mr. Harper presented the plan and outlined options that district leaders asked staff to refine before school begins.

The proposals presented include modest shifts to school start and end times (moving elementary start earlier and secondary later to create a 10-minute buffer for runs), incentives for coaches who obtain commercial driver licenses, a $500 sign-on bonus for new drivers with a three-year commitment, a $250 quarterly perfect-attendance stipend, a $250 driver-referral bonus, a $500 one-time return bonus for drivers returning after a 12-month absence, a guaranteed minimum daily pay (six hours) for drivers who work a full run, and moving from 18-paycheck to 24-paycheck annualization so drivers receive paychecks in summer months.

“We pick up all of our elementary kids first, we could drop them off at those campuses, and then our buses go back out and they pick up all of our secondary students,” Mr. Harper said, explaining how start-time shifts would create more transition time for drivers and reduce tardiness and long afternoon waits. He also proposed coach incentives: a $1,000 annual stipend for coaches who acquire CDLs, $20 an hour for coaches driving nonsport trips, and $30 per trip if coaches drive their own teams.

Board members pressed for guardrails. Trustee (name on record: Mr. Harrington) asked that bus drivers on current overtime lists be offered extra trips before coaches are solicited for after-school runs, saying drivers should have first opportunity for extra pay. Trustee (name on record: Miss Long) asked for clearer criteria for the $1,000 stipend (how many routes or trips required). Mr. Harper agreed to provide a detailed eligibility breakdown and to return salary-comparison data.

Superintendent-level staff and board members discussed alternatives to multiple bonuses, with some trustees urging staff to model whether a higher base salary could be a simpler, more durable solution than layered stipends. “It’s easier to just pour more money into salary,” one trustee said, recommending staff produce numbers showing what a straight salary increase would cost compared with the proposed incentives.

Staff emphasized that the proposals are preliminary. Mr. Harper said the district already covers full CDL training and pays trainees during certification; the $500 sign-on would be paid on licensing and tied to a commitment. The board and staff agreed to return with refined salary scenarios, clear criteria for stipends and an overtime-desired list that prioritizes current drivers. Trustees asked staff to finalize any salary decisions before the start of school so applicants and incumbents know pay levels.

The board did not vote on the proposals at the July 14 meeting; staff said formal recommendations, salary tables and implementation details will be presented at an upcoming workshop and on the July 28 meeting agenda.