School districts looking for bus drivers amid shortage
'We want to be proactive and hire as much as we can throughout the summer'
Updated: 5:56 PM CDT Jul 10, 2019
Camila Orti
DOZENS OF PEOPLE TRICKLE IN AND OUT OF MONROE MIDDLE SCHOOL WEDNESDAY FOR AN OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS JOB FAIR. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTED JOB OPENINGS, BUS DRIVERS. >> WE HAVE A GOOD FLOW OF PEOPLE CONTINUOUSLY COMING IN, WE HAVE DRIVERS, POTENTIAL DRIVERS, AND AIDS COMING IN. CAMILA: OPS TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR TREVIS SALLIS HOPES TO HIRE UP TO 50 PEOPLE IF POSSIBLE -- >> GOOD AFTERNOON. CAMILA: TO BE WELL-PREPARED FOR NEXT YEAR'S ROUTES. >> THERE'S A SHORTAGE IN THE INDUSTRY, SO AS A DISTRICT, WE WANT TO BE PROACTIVE AND HIRE AS MUCH AS WE CAN THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. CAMILA: OTHER COMPANIES AND DISTRICTS HAVE THE SAME IDEA. STUDENT TRANSPORTATION OF AMERICA, POSTING THESE SIGNS ACROSS THE CITY. COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, TWEETING OUT THIS FLIER -- THIS FLYER FOR FIRST STUDENT. >> WHEN YOU HAVE A STATE SUCH AS NEBRASKA, AND SAY, OMAHA, WHERE YOU HAVE A LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, THAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE OF A CHALLENGE. CAMILA: OPS PAYS ITS BUS DRIVERS $17 TO $31 AN HOUR. -- --$17.31 PER HOUR. SALLIS SAYS THEY EMPLOY 200 TO 300 PER SCHOOL YEAR. HUNDREDS MORE ARE CONTRACTED THROUGH STUDENT TRANSPORTATION OF AMERICA. LOOKS LIKE STA IS ADVERTISING THE HIGHEST PER HOUR PAY AT $18.25, FIRST STUDENT IN COUNCIL BLUFFS IS OFFERING $16.70 PER HOUR. CA
Preparations are already underway for the next school year.School districts and transportation companies are working hard to get more bus drivers on board. Omaha Public Schools Transportation Director Trevis Sallis says his department works closely with Human Resources to try to get as many people hired during the summer months as possible.On Wednesday, dozens of potential hires trickled into Monroe Middle School for an OPS Job Fair."We have a good flow of people continuously coming in, so I'm really excited about it, we have potential drivers and aides coming in," Sallis said.Sallis told KETV NewsWatch 7 that he hopes to hire up to 50 people if possible to be well-prepared for next year's routes."There's a shortage in the industry, so as a district we want to be proactive and hire as much as we can throughout the summer," Sallis said.Other companies and districts have the same idea. Student Transportation of America posted bright yellow yard signs around the metro that say "Now Hiring School Bus Drivers" and "We Will Train You."Council Bluffs Community Schools and OPS have also posted fliers on social media platforms. CBCS tweeted out information for First Student looking to hire bus drivers for a rate of $16.70 per hour."When you have a state such as Nebraska, and say Omaha, where you have a low unemployment rate, that makes it even more of a challenge," Sallis said.OPS pays its bus drivers $17.31 per hour. STA is advertising it'll pay drivers $18.25 per hour.Sallis said OPS employs 200 to 300 drivers each school year, and hundreds more are contracted through STA.
OMAHA, Neb. —
Preparations are already underway for the next school year.
School districts and transportation companies are working hard to get more bus drivers on board.
Omaha Public Schools Transportation Director Trevis Sallis says his department works closely with Human Resources to try to get as many people hired during the summer months as possible.
On Wednesday, dozens of potential hires trickled into Monroe Middle School for an OPS Job Fair.
"We have a good flow of people continuously coming in, so I'm really excited about it, we have potential drivers and aides coming in," Sallis said.
Sallis told KETV NewsWatch 7 that he hopes to hire up to 50 people if possible to be well-prepared for next year's routes.
"There's a shortage in the industry, so as a district we want to be proactive and hire as much as we can throughout the summer," Sallis said.
Other companies and districts have the same idea. Student Transportation of America posted bright yellow yard signs around the metro that say "Now Hiring School Bus Drivers" and "We Will Train You."
Council Bluffs Community Schools and OPS have also posted fliers on social media platforms. CBCS tweeted out information for First Student looking to hire bus drivers for a rate of $16.70 per hour.
"When you have a state such as Nebraska, and say Omaha, where you have a low unemployment rate, that makes it even more of a challenge," Sallis said.
OPS pays its bus drivers $17.31 per hour. STA is advertising it'll pay drivers $18.25 per hour.
Sallis said OPS employs 200 to 300 drivers each school year, and hundreds more are contracted through STA.