Bus Driver Shortage at Milford

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The Milford Public School District is looking to fill a shortage of available bus drivers.

Kevin Wingard, superintendent at Milford Public Schools, said the district notices the shortage the most during activities.

“Currently, on a normal school day with no activities going on, we have enough drivers for our routes,” Wingard said. “But, when you start to throw in activities like sports and fieldtrips, that’s when we need more substitute drivers to cover our normal driver’s routes.”

Wingard added that the district especially faces problems when the substitutes aren’t available.

            “When we don’t have any subs to fill in for a route, we have to ask some of our teachers that are able to drive to fill in,” Wingard said. “When we do that, we have to hire substitute teachers to fill in for the teachers that are out driving, and that’s not what we want to do.”

Wingard also touched on what happens if there aren’t any substitutes to drive for activities.

“If we don’t have any substitutes to drive for an activity, then a normal driver usually has to take the kids to the activity, and then leave to drive their normal route,” Wingard said. “That means that the students at that activity are left without a bus until the driver can return.”

            The shortage of bus drivers isn’t just happening in Milford, it’s happening in many places in the surrounding area. Wingard thinks credits several factors for the shortage.

            “First off, bus drivers are driving and dropping off the kids at unique times,” Wingard said. “The drivers usually drop the kids off around 8 a.m., so you aren’t able to make it to your other job. Then, you have to pick the kids up from the school around 3:30 p.m., and that means you would have to leave your other job early.”

            Wingard said another reason people shy away from bus driving is the sheer responsibility.

            “Each day, you drive around 30 to 50 kids on country roads that usually aren’t kept maintained the best,” Wingard said. “It can be a stressful job.”

            New bus drivers undergo an extensive amount of training and must satisfy several requirements. Between having to get your CDL, bus license, bus endorsement, a physical, a background check, and much more, becoming a bus driver is not an easy task. Although this all seems like a lot, Wingard did have some good news about all of the training.

            “The school pays for all the training,” Wingard said. “So no need to worry about that.”

            Although all the training of becoming a bus driver may seem like a burden, Wingard brought up a few positives to becoming a bus driver.

            “The kids are so much fun to interact and build relationships with,” says Wingard. “You’re the first school person they see in the day, and you’ll be the last as well, so you can really leave an impact on them.”

            If anyone is interested in becoming a bus driver for Milford Public Schools, Wingard would be appreciative.

            “We’re always in need of sub and part time drivers,” Wingard said. “We may also need more full time drivers here soon, depending on what some of our older drivers decide to do.”