Bethlehem to host Bus Driver Open House Aug. 16; invites potential applicants to TEST DRIVE a school bus
The Bethlehem Central School District is taking a new approach to attracting bus driver applicants: it will let prospective employees test drive a big, yellow bus at a Bus Driver Open House on Tuesday, August 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The open house will be held at the district’s Transportation Department located at 82 Van Dyke Road, Delmar, New York 12054.
District Transportation Supervisor Cindy Jurewicz said prospective employees need to be 21 years of age with a clean driving record. Driving a school bus requires a commercial driver’s license, but applicants do NOT need a commercial driver’s license to test drive a bus or to apply for a driver position. Drivers in Bethlehem work flexible, part-time schedules and begin at a rate of $17.50 an hour with paid training for successful applicants.
Jurewicz said school bus drivers typically work in the morning and the afternoon with a long break in between. Interested drivers may also be able to cover additional after school runs and sports or field trips, but otherwise, they can count on weekends, evenings and summers off as well school holidays and breaks.
“The schedule offers a lot of flexibility, which may be perfect for a retiree, stay-at-home parent or college student,” said Jurewicz. She added that the career of “bus driver” scored an 8 out of 10 for work-life balance in a 2016 Best Jobs Rankings by U.S. News & World Report.
The U.S. Department of Labor has projected a 6 percent growth in employment opportunities for bus drivers through 2024. Yet, 62 percent of school districts reported a moderate to desperate shortage of bus drivers in a nationwide survey last year (source: School Bus Fleet magazine). With more job openings and too few drivers to fill them, most school districts are on the hunt for qualified applicants.
Those interested in attending the Bus Driver Open House or who would like more information on the application process can contact Kevin Williams at the Bethlehem Central School District Transportation Office via email at [email protected] or by phone at 518-439-3830.
