Kaneland hopes $1,000 bonus will get it some bus drivers
The Kaneland school district will pay a $1,000 signing bonus to get experienced bus drivers to join, and stay with, the district.
The district has four vacancies, and no takers.
"We just don't have applicants," Associate Superintendent Julie-Ann Fuchs said Monday. She said she has heard busing companies, including Illinois Central and First Student, are also having trouble finding and retaining drivers. One of the employers competing with Kaneland just increased its bonus to $2,000, she said.
Last Friday, the district was so short-staffed that its mechanics ended up driving buses, she said.
To be eligible, would-be drivers must have a current Class B commercial driver's license, with passenger and school bus endorsements; and agree to work for the district for one full school year or calendar year, depending on when they are hired.
The bonus will be paid $500 upon being hired, and $500 at the end of the year.
The school board approved the plan Monday night. Board members Ryan Kerry and Veronica Bruhl voted against it. Kerry voted against it largely because the proposal didn't contain an end date. Bruhl was concerned about getting back the bonus if the driver doesn't complete the year. The board also approved a $200 payment for current drivers who refer a new hire. And it agreed to review the effect of the bonus in one year.
The district has about 70 bus drivers, Fuchs said. The district has 60 buses - 56 71-passenger buses, two 29-passenger buses and two 14-passenger activity buses. Fuchs did not have the number of routes driven available at the meeting.
Four of the daily routes don't have regular drivers. The district has been using four of its seven permanent substitute drivers to take care of those routes, leaving it in a pickle at times when other drivers call in sick or take a personal day off. So the district has had to use five to seven call-in substitutes each day for regular routes, sports and field trips. Some sports buses have been delayed for lack of drivers, she said.
"Our coaches are upset with that. But we have to get the kids home from school before we can do sports things," Fuchs said. Some coaches have commercial licenses and so drive their teams to events. And because you don't need a commercial license to drive the 14-passenger buses, coaches of smaller teams, such as the golf and chess teams, can drive their players to meets.
Fuchs estimates that it costs the district $660 to license and train an inexperienced driver.
Bus-driver pay currently starts at $29.96 for a driver who works a 40-minute route, up to $70.91 for working a 155-minute route. Those who have at least five years with the district are paid 3 percent more, and those with at least 10 years are paid 5 percent more. The route times are determined by the district, and include time at the beginning and end for the driver to perform required safety and mechanical checks and to sweep out their bus.
For sports or field trips, drivers make $18.80 per hour.
The district also pays for drivers' licenses.