Like most school districts around the country, Ukiah Unified is going through a shortage of bus drivers. The District suspended individual routes sporadically throughout this school year and recently had to suspend all routes for a few weeks due to COVID-19 protocols. Bus driver shortages and route suspensions make it tough on students and families. Ukiah Unified serves a large geographic region with many families living in distant or remote areas who rely on bus transportation to get their kids to school. Other families have conflicting work schedules with start and end times that make getting the kids to and from school a challenge when the bus option isn’t available.
When children can’t get to school right now, it’s especially tough considering everything our families have endured throughout the pandemic. It’s also tough on the bus drivers. Thirty-year Ukiah Unified school bus veteran and current driver instructor Debbie Kirby said, “It was really hard when we couldn’t drive at all, the kids missed us, and we missed our kids. I saw some of them in the store, and they waved at me and told me how much they missed me.” As the pandemic made it harder for transportation to keep the buses running, the staff stepped up and worked harder. The drivers worked more hours, put in overtime, picked up extra shifts, combined routes, and did everything they could to keep the buses running.
The pandemic has brought many unknown education heroes into the spotlight, and our bus drivers shine. The National Academy of Sciences, The United States Department of Transportation, and other authorities agree that school buses are the safest form of transportation for getting children to and from school. SAFE Miles (total miles without an accident) are awarded to Ukiah Unified drivers each year. In 2020, they safely transported more than 1,400 students between home and school every day, totaling 136,285 SAFE Miles and 14,427,983 total SAFE Miles from 2017-2020. Ukiah Unified bus drivers have been busy this year, and the miles will be much greater than in 2020. The Ukiah Unified fleet consists of 16 Type I buses, including 8 electric buses!
“The best part about being a driver is getting to see the kid's happy faces in the morning when they get on. Asking them about their day, taking them home, and making sure they're safe. That’s why we do what we do,” Kirby stated. “Working as a driver is so rewarding I wouldn’t give it up for anything.”
Bus driver shortages result from a perfect storm; several key factors are causing a decrease in available drivers nationwide. Bus drivers are, on average, among the oldest workers in the United States, and many retired rather than driving during the pandemic due to health concerns. Some drivers dropped out, and others didn’t even apply due to COVID-19 protocols. The systems that qualify and train prospective drivers slowed down during the pandemic. It is tougher to get your Commercial Drivers License (CDL) over the last two years simply because many DMV offices were closed for long periods of time or operating with shorter hours. And let’s not forget the most significant problem; money. In most school districts, drivers are typically among the lower-paid classified employees. This is not the case at Ukiah Unified.
Ukiah Unified has stepped up financially to attract bus drivers. $900 in bonus money awaits any bus driver who completes training and 20 days of service with the District. According to Salary.com, the average hourly wage nationwide for a school bus driver is $17. At Ukiah Unified, beginning drivers make $19.27 – $23.42 an hour, well above the average. And the current salary schedule for a bus driver tops out at $39.47 an hour. Ukiah Unified offers life, health, dental, and vision insurance, Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) retirement, paid training, paid sick leave and holidays, and summers off. You can work part-time, full-time, as a substitute driver, or on contract. And you work no nights or weekends unless you want to drive for extra-curricular activities.
Whether you’re a retiree wanting to give back to the community or a college student wanting part-time work that looks great on your resume, driving a school bus might be a position for you. If you or anyone you know wants to start a rewarding career helping our community as a school bus driver, please call 707-472-5040 or visit www.uusd.net and click on Employment Opportunities. You can also stop by in person at 511 South Orchard Avenue and fill out an application. Join our team and make a difference in the lives of our children!
“At first, I didn’t think I could drive a school bus. After a short time, I realized this is what was meant to be,” said Kirby. “To this day, nothing has changed after over 30 years. I still love these kids!”
Bus drivers are a crucial link in the education chain, so we want to spotlight our drivers and celebrate the vital contribution they make to the success of our community. February 22, 2022, is National Bus Driver Appreciation Day. Join Ukiah Unified School District as we appreciate and celebrate our school bus drivers, driver's aides, and transportation staff. Let’s recognize the invaluable contributions they make to education and safety!
What you can do to appreciate our fantastic bus drivers:
- Take a selfie with a bus driver and share it on social media.
- Give a bus driver a gift, card, or letter.
- Treat a bus driver to coffee or lunch.
- Say THANK YOU! Let them know you appreciate them.