School Bus Drivers Needed

The school bus driver shortage across the state has meant some city routes have been combined or cancelled. In more rural areas, some administrators have turned to different school start times to maximize their limited personnel. Such drastic measures have not yet been necessary in Weakley County. And transportation director Ron Byington is working overtime to ensure the county’s 41 routes stay fully served.
He is already aware that he’ll be losing a driver soon and he’s in need of a stronger roster of substitutes. “We are blessed to be where we are and have the people we have,” noted Byington. “We are in good shape, but not great shape.”
Adding to the concern is an upcoming deadline of Feb. 7, when more extensive training for new drivers will be mandatory. The training could require up to two weeks to cover the 96 different topics that’s included in the materials.
“Ideally, before that first week in February, I’d like to have all our positions filled and a substantial number of substitutes ready to finish out our school year,” explained Byington. “Filling spots after that date would put a strain on our limited personnel.”
Daily wages of from $60 to $66 can even be combined with those from other positions within the school system like cafeteria workers and educational assistants to carve together a fulltime position, he noted. Benefits for drivers include retirement.
Byington stated, “Drivers must be self-motivated and safe-minded. And they are a huge part of the academic success of our children.”
For more information, call Byington at 731-364-2578.