find work elsewhere. “That is a hard pill to swallow when you are short drivers. However, if you are willing to do the hard work, the rewards will come as your workplace, your system of relationships become healthier and healthier,” he said. “When that happens, your great em- ployees will become your strongest advocates and they will attract other solid employees. Until then, it can really feel like you hire one, and then let one go.” Fountain-Fort Carson’s fleet is currently being upgrad-
ed with air conditioning and heated driver seats. Leach noted that adding climate control and purchasing new school buses helps retain drivers. “Driving a bus in Au- gust with no air condition is exhausting and downright miserable,” he said. Overall, his one piece of advice to transportation de- partments is to establish a team responsible for hiring. “Hire 24/7 and never stop,” he said. “If one candidate
is ready to start on Monday then get them and start. The days of packaging together a big training class are gone.”
Southwest Region Dripping Springs Independent School District in Texas
pays its drivers a starting wage of $30 an hour, which Di- rector of Transportation Pam Swanks said is the highest in the area to her knowledge.
SMARTtag_HalfPageAd_STNMag_v4-FA.pdf 1 5/1/2024 2:45:07 PM
However, drivers can receive up to $40 an hour, based
on the a bus driver pay scale adopted as part of the dis- trict’s compensation plan, which was updated this past school year. To obtain the $40 an hour pay, drivers need over 30 years of experience, which Swanks said one driver on staff currently makes. “The board recognized the need for a competitive pay
scale as a potential solution to our bus driver staffing issue,” she shared, adding that for the new school year she has ample applicants to replace two drivers who resigned. “We truly appreciate our district leadership and school board for the significant increase in our driver pay scale as a solution to our staffing shortage.” Swanks said driver feedback indicates that pay is more
valuable than other benefits. While they are not offered full-time hours, most routes require eight-hour days. She added that increased pay sends a message: Drivers are valued. “We encourage genuine communication and building
relationships,” she continued. “The increase in pay was effective for this past school year and was welcomed. Most were pleasantly surprised at the amount of the increase.” Swanks added that air conditioning on the buses is a huge benefit in the Texas heat as well.
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38 School Transportation News • JULY 2024
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