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Here’s how one metro district is working to combat school bus driver shortages

By WSBTV.com News Staff
By WSBTV.com News Staff

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Channel 2 Action News is highlighting jobs across metro Atlanta that are seeing a serious worker shortage.

One of them is bus drivers as districts across the country are feeling the impact. Channel 2′s Jorge Estevez went to work with Clayton County Schools where parents are stepping up to fill the void.

“I have kids in Clayton County. I’ve seen the shortage and I felt that maybe I can help out,” Taretta Allen said.

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Applicants like Allen go through training and testing in a classroom setting so eventually they can make it in the driver seat like Ms. Ruby. She has been driving school buses for 53 years.

“What’s your secret Ms. Ruby?” Estevez asked.

“I get to know my kids one on one,” she replied. “That makes a very good relationship with the kids. And get to know their parents.”

A good relationship with the kids is something that makes the job at times more challenging.

“More people are interested in moving freight or driving on the road as opposed to driving students,” Clayton County Schools transportation director Denise Hall said. “Some of it has to do with behavior. Some of it has to do with the number of students that we transport on the bus.”

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The Clayton County School District completes 317 routes. They are down about 24 drivers. It may not seem like a lot but the district deals with people calling out like any other job.

“Daily transportation staff will call out anywhere from 20 to 40 employees a day,” Hall said.

Retention is also a challenge.

“School bus districts are competitive. So if my neighbor raises their compensation by $2, then my staff would jump ship and go over there,” Hall said. “If MARTA does a spike in its compensation those are things we combat with to be able to stay comparable.”

District leaders are working to combat the issue with CDL training and certification, health coverage and life insurance benefits, perfect attendance bonuses and other incentives. The district also offers $21 per hour pay.

The responsibility goes beyond the route. Drivers also have a mandated 20-day inspection because safety is key.

“If they find anything they report it to the shop,” supervisor Don McDay said as he showed Estevez the inspection process.

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Back on the bus, Estevez met with another dedicated driver with more than 50 years behind the wheel with students.

“My cousin was driving. She drove 50 years and retired,” said Barbara Johnson. “Well I said I’ll try the bus but I don’t know about it. But I fell in love with it.

What is her advice for new drivers?

“First of all, you better like your job. Second of all, you better like your kids,” she said. “I hope to drive 55 more years.”

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