Bus driver pool feeling some pressure
Bus driver John Bourque welcomes his passengers at Fernan STEM Academy after school lets out Monday. About six drivers in the Coeur d'Alene School District are out right now because of positive COVID cases, close contact with positive cases and other circumstances. Even part-time drivers would help fill needs at this time. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
COEUR d’ALENE — Roughly 10% of bus drivers in the Coeur d'Alene School District are out, some with COVID-19 and others in quarantine because of close contact exposure.
District operations director Jeff Voeller said Monday that not all of the exposures happened at work; some personnel is out because of someone in the household coming into contact with the virus and therefore requiring everyone to isolate.
Also, he said, some are simply out with regular life circumstances.
"When you put all of those factors in, we were getting a bit skinny on available drivers and aides last week,” Voeller said, adding that aides are needed on routes with students with special needs.
Coeur d'Alene isn't the only district experiencing complications with driver shortages. Across the state and the country, school districts have been sending out the call for qualified volunteer or part-time drivers to help fill the need.
"The need for drivers is really critical," Voeller said. "Just some part-time driving would be helpful."
John Bourque, a "professional transportation engineer," has been driving for Coeur d'Alene for four years. He picked up students from Fernan STEM Academy when school let out Monday.
"I love it, I love being a bus driver," Bourque said.
Voeller said in a bit of good news, the district has about five interested applicants who could begin training this week.
"That will certainly help as we move forward with this," he said.
He said a couple routes with small numbers of students have been consolidated.
"I do have some backup drivers. My mechanics can drive and our secretary can drive," Voeller said. "But when I have them driving, you know our pool is getting pretty low."
The driver lounge at the bus depot has been closed except for those just beginning or getting off shift, as well.
"We’re limiting the time they can be in the lounge and we've distanced the seating," Voeller said.
Starting wage for Coeur d’Alene School District bus drivers is $13.42. The position requires a commercial driver's license, flexibility, and, of course, someone who likes kids. The district has more than 60 drivers for a fleet of 66 buses.
Coeur d'Alene School District is in the "orange" moderate COVID risk category, reflecting high but controlled community transmission, including confirmed exposure within communal settings.
To keep bus drivers safe, parents are encouraged to remind their children to keep on masks on the bus and be vigilant with symptom checking, hand washing and sanitization.
"Please, follow the policies that are in place of wearing masks," Voeller said. "It's easier for kids with less supervision to pull their masks off on the bus."
Visit www.cdaschools.org/transportation to explore current jobs or contact human resources assistant Lisa Loy at 208-664-8241 or email lloy@cdaschools.org if you're interested in becoming a bus driver.