School districts looking for more bus drivers

SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah – A desperate call out from school districts for more bus drivers. The Jordan School District and the Alpine School District are both reporting they are down by 30 drivers.

“That’s a lot,” said Paul Bergera who is the director of transportation with Jordan. “This has been the most challenging year. We  have office staff, we have mechanics, myself out driving, picking up kids every day.”

And in some cases they the drivers are having to do “double runs” where a bus will pick up just half the students and then return to pick up the other half.

“I have never seen it this bad ever,” said Marcus Swainston who is the bus trainer with Jordan School District, but is now having to pick up routes causing him to work 11 hour days. “The pandemic didn’t leave us in the best shape, I think everyone is playing catch-up and it’s really hurting us.”

As an incentive, the Jordan School district is offering over $21 dollar an hour to first time drivers. There could also be benefits depending on the number of hours a person puts in.

Wanted! Bus Drivers more than $21 an hour in some school districts some district short 30 drivers. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/zjdtAQtUkV

— Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) August 25, 2021

“It’s great, it’s fun, it’s the first face kids see in the morning, it’s the last they see when they go home,” said Bergera. “It’s a flexible schedule and it’s just so rewarding.”

“You have different experiences on that bus every day, different stories from children, different situation you’re put in and it’s rewarding,” said Swainston.