The Pinellas County School District does not have enough bus drivers for the 2017-2018 school year. That is the reason the district recruiting one hundred new employees.
Patrick Callahan wants to be one of the newly hired school bus drivers.
“I think I get along with kids," said Callahan.
He is applying to be a school bus driver after being laid off from his job seven months ago.
"I think I’m a pretty good driver," said Callahan. "And that’s important for parents to know that their kids are going to be coming home in the same or better condition than when they left."
Duane Richmond, a recruiter for Pinellas County and a bus driver himself, says turnover is high in the county for various reasons.
Some peoples retire while others leave because of non-work related issues.
The district's struggle to hold on to good drivers can be tough and cause challenges, like commuting problems.
"We will not go home till every student is picked up and delivered back to their home," said Richmond. "Timing could be a thing where some of our routes may run twenty minutes late because we are utilizing bus drivers at two different times."
There are part-time and full-time school bus driver positions available. Applicants first must pass a pre-screening employment and background check, and have a clean driving record.
Before being hired potential school bus drivers also must undergo one month of training on their route and learn how to properly operate a bus.
The Hillsborough County School District is also short about one hundred bus drivers while Hernando County needs ten drivers.
Pinellas County Schools is hosting a bus driver application assistance event at the Walter Pownall Service Center at 11111 S. Belcher Road in Largo on Monday, June 26 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. For more information, click here.
