In response to a persistent shortage of school bus drivers, the Scottsdale Unified School District is organizing an innovative event this weekend to attract potential candidates. The initiative invites interested individuals to experience driving a school bus in a controlled setting.
The event, scheduled for Saturday, will allow applicants to test drive a school bus in a parking lot. It aims to demystify the role and encourage more individuals to consider a career in school transportation.
Candidates do not need prior experience in bus driving. However, they must possess a clean driving record and a minimum of five years’ experience in regular driving.
David Jacobson, the district’s director of transportation, clarified that while new drivers must obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL), the district facilitates all necessary training. “They would just have to go down and get a permit from the DMV for us to do that training,” Jacobson stated. “But then we do all the training in-house and that is paid training, so you are getting paid while you are getting trained for your CDL and we also do the testing here on-site.”
The recruitment effort comes as schools nationwide grapple with a shortage of bus drivers, a situation exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. “We had a lot of drivers leave, you know, obviously when we were off for some time there due to COVID and a lot of them didn’t return,” Jacobson explained. “It’s just been a struggle since then nationwide for schools to find bus drivers.”
In addition to drivers, the district is seeking to hire mechanics and bus aides to support the transportation needs of students.
The recruitment event will take place from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 12, at Pima Elementary School on Osborn Road in Scottsdale.
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