LEXINGTON, Ky. — There's an urgent need for bus drivers and monitors in Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS).

What You Need To Know

  • Fayette County Public Schools is in need of bus drivers and monitors

  • They have enough bus drivers currently but not enough for when all the grades return to class.

  • The district has approved pay increases and bonuses for drivers

  • The district wants to hire 30 bus drivers

 

The school district approved funding bonuses and higher pay rates to help ease shortages this week.

“I enjoy the fact of being able to interact with the kids. and being a positive influence on these kids,” said Manny Potter, a bus driver for FCPS.

This week grades 3 through 5 returned to in-person learning. Last week, grade Kindergarten through second grades stepped back into the classroom.

“You never know what the kid is going through in the morning, and by you being the first person they see when they leave their house. You can save their day and that's what we're here for,” Potter said.

The school district said as of Wednesday, they had a 96% attendance level counting for 13,386 children stepping back into the classroom and transporting them has gone smoothly the last two weeks with spaced-out seating with safety measures on the forefront.

“Everybody stays positive man I mean, this is a hard time, the whole, you know, the whole world's going through this, and we all stay positive and keep planning,” Potter said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge impacting the transportation department at the school district.

There are enough drivers for now and next week when grades 6, 9, and 12 return to in-person classes and also when all the middle and high school students return in the coming weeks. But the challenge is finding additional support for these schools and drivers for their technical centers and several academies, finding drivers like Potter.

“Our job is to make a difference in this world so that's what I try to do,” Potter said.

The school district said they are hiring 30 bus drivers and depending on the candidates, the hiring process could take anywhere from three to six weeks.

Besides beginning immediately, drivers who complete both their morning and afternoon routes will receive a $30 per day bonus, monitors who complete both of their morning and afternoon routes will get a $20 per day bonus, and substitute drivers will earn $30 an hour, which is up from $14.

If you or someone you know is interested and would like to apply, here is the website to help you. 

Related Stories