Winfield council approves athletic director hire and multiple school bus driver appointments

The Winfield City Council on July 15 approved hiring Justin Waltz as the city's full-time athletic director and authorized four hires to restore school transportation staffing.

Council members voted to name Justin Waltz to the athletic director post after the council's interviews and recommendation process. Susan (staff member) told the council the city received more and stronger applicants than in previous hiring cycles and recommended Waltz.

The council also approved hiring two primary school bus drivers, Laura Allman and Marie Gray, and two substitute drivers, Deborah Tidwell and Wesley McNeal. Susan said the driver appointments are intended to address recent staffing shortages: two drivers were lost in a single day in May, and the department had lost the only employee with a Class B license earlier in the summer. Under the staffing plan presented, the two primary drivers will alternate weeks on a two-week payroll and two backup drivers will be kept on call to ensure coverage.

Council discussion noted the need to retain local drivers and the ongoing challenge of recruiting and keeping staff. A council member asked whether drivers working as Class B drivers receive a different pay grade; Susan said that question would be examined later.

The motion to approve the athletic director appointment and to hire the drivers passed on a voice vote with the council chair calling for "all in favor."