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Board funds local bus-driver training program to address driver shortage
Summary
Facing a shortage of certified bus drivers, the board approved purchasing curriculum materials and paying instructors to run an in-district certification program, with staff to design details on trainee obligations and possible cost-recovery mechanisms.
The board approved funding to start an in-district bus-driver certification program intended to grow the local pool of drivers.
S6 and staff (Marty and others) outlined persistent recruitment challenges for certified drivers and proposed buying instructional materials and paying an instructor and driver at $27 an hour to provide training locally. S6 said buying the course materials would cost roughly $200 and that the district would offer training to prospective drivers to build capacity rather than outsourcing all activity runs.
Board members discussed options for recouping training costs if trainees leave (upfront deposits, prorated repayment schedules, multi-year commitments). Some members worried that charging applicants could discourage participation; others favored a contractual obligation. “It’s almost like a deposit… we give them the certification if they do a year,” said S10 during the discussion of repayment models.
S10 moved to approve purchasing the curriculum and paying the instructor and driver rates as presented; a second was recorded and the board approved the motion by voice vote. Staff were directed to implement a program design that includes course purchase, instructor compensation, and follow-up details for trainee commitments and advertising the course to prospective drivers.
The board emphasized starting with district drivers first and expanding to public offerings only after ironing out administrative accounting and any repayment/commitment arrangements.
