Shortage of bus drivers across the region

School bus drivers needed for Camden-Rockport routes

Mon, 11/17/2014 - 4:00pm

CAMDEN —A first grade boy climbs aboard the bus at Camden-Rockport Elementary School, heading for home after a long day in the classroom. “I want to sit in back,” he tells the bus driver, looking her square in the eye.

“You know the rules,” responded Julie Waters, gazing right back at him.

“My first bus driver said it was OK,” said the boy.

“Middle of the bus, OK?” Waters said. The boy nods and smiles.

It’s a balancing act, dealing with school children of all ages, from 5 years old to 18, driving them to and from home, each with their own daily thoughts, problems and excitement.

Their eyes express much of it, as they chat with friends, stare out windows, or play with stuffed animals they haul out of their backpacks. In the rear of the bus, it’s a little rowdier.

“Guys, we are going to sit down, right?” asked Waters, glancing into the rear view mirror. “All the way, Kayla. All the way.”

The road is long for some of the students, who live near the end of the route. But it is a routine, and even by October, they’ve got the rules down.

Waters is Transportation Director of SAD 28 and the Five Town CSD, and on this particular day she was behind the wheel of a bus because the district has a shortage of drivers.

As she rolls up to the stops, parents are waiting outside for the younger children, or some doors on homes are wide open. The mothers are smiling and hug their children. Even the roughest, toughest men, on child duty that afternoon, break out in a grin when the bus stops and a child climbs down the steps, out the door, and around the front of the bus.

“Look how easy it is,” said Waters. “It’s just fun.”

Then she laughs, describing how 20 years ago she used to — way before she became transportation director for two school systems — be a spare driver in the same districts, driving teams to basketball, soccer and baseball games.

“We had a blast, going to the games, laughing with the kids,” she said.

Waters is talking up the job of bus driver because she needs more of them for the high school, middle and elementary school routes. She has advertised multiple times for drivers on Servingschools.com and in local papers.

“School Bus Driver Openings. Now hiring substitute bus drivers, will train.”

She needs to grow her roster of drivers and is currently hiring. Waters has 11 routes in Camden and Rockport, and needs drivers for these routes as well as extra-curricular trips.

"If someone is self-employed and creative, this is a great part-time job," said Waters. "The average route is 20-24 hours per week, 6:15 to 8:45 a.m., and 2 to 4 p.m."

Starting salary starts at $15.13 for spare trip drivers. Some full-times employees are making more than $20 and hour with health benefits, sick time and holidays. 

The qualifications — obviously — include someone who likes children, and can manage a busload of personalities, “and still drive,” said Waters.

What about those buses, the old Blue Stars. How easy are they to drive?

“I prefer being in this bus in the snow than in a car,” said Waters. The only sketchy time she remembered was about 10 years ago driving along ice on Meadow Street, in Rockport, near Seasons Downeast.

“I went sideways down the road,” she said.

But, she said, the new buses are built with steel beams around the whole bus.

The oldest in the fleet is a 2000 model with 211,000 miles on it.

“That’s because we have the best mechanic there is,” she said. “Bob French.”

When is he going to retire?

“I hope never,” said Waters. “Every year, our buses pass the state inspection with flying colors.”

Waters likes dropping back into the driver’s seat when she has to.

“I love being out here with the kids,” she said. “Any age, but especially the elementary students.”

The little ones, kindergarteners, are full of questions. Who are you, they ask the reporter with the camera. What are you doing? Why are you taking that picture? Are you a teacher? What are doing after you get home?

They also have lots of suggestions. “Take her picture.” “Take his picture.” Take my picture.” 

The older students, on the other hand, are Cool Hand Lukes, stepping to the back of the bus. Some of the girls, just preteens, are hobbling along on high heeled boots, almost stilettos that you know pinch the toes. It seems to be the fashion this fall. But really, you just want to give them a pair of sneakers so they can fly off the bus and run over the grass.

“Hey guys,” Water says loudly, taking another hard look in the mirror at older students in the back of the bus, horsing around. “We’re not going to do that, are we?”

“Noooooo,” they agree.

It’s not hard to become a bus driver, and the Midcoast School of Technology adult education department in Rockland holds periodic bus training courses. One needs a valid Maine driver’s license. Criminal histories are checked.

The course includes classroom instruction, range instruction, and behind the wheel training in a full sized school bus with automatic transmission. The typical schedule begins with two weeks of daytime classroom study, followed by a series of three-hour driving appointments for the road and range training. Tuition includes permit fee, drug testing, instructional materials, and two attempts to pass the road test. Call 596-7752 for an application. Course includes permit and endorsements.

Camden-Rockport schools are not the only ones needing drivers. RSU 13 (Cushing, Owls Head, Rockland, St. George, So. Thomaston, Thomaston) is also seeking substitute bus drivers.

“There is a demand for drivers,” said Marianne Doyle, a director at Midcoast School of Technology. “The pay rate is competitive for the region.”

Iinterested in pursuing this fun, entertaining, and valued vocation? Get in touch with either MidCoast School of Technology about their course or call a local transportation director.

 


Editorial Director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657