Help wanted: Bus drivers

SANDUSKY — It's a reoccurring problem. Schools across Erie County are experiencing bus driver shortages, which have occurred for years. With a number of drivers retiring, replacements aren't always available, and it appears to be a chronic problem."We're always looking for qualified subs," Huron Schools transportation director Chad Carter said. "Even if they are interested in getting certified, we can go through the steps to get them trained. Any former bus driving experience helps."The shortage isn't specific to neither the Sandusky area nor Ohio."It's a problem across the country," said Pete Japikse, senior transportation consultant for the Ohio School Boards Association. "Most districts are struggling with that, it's not unique to Ohio. Every state is experiencing it."Sandusky City Schools bus driver Jerra Shafrath checks over her bus before heading out to her route on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018.Why is it a problem?Japikse has a few theories about what contributes to the shortage."When the economy is up and (bus driving) isn't not a need (for them), folks aren't moving to that," he said.Additionally, more school districts are unable to afford health insurance for part-time employees and people want easier work."Folks are looking for casual labor and easier things to do," Japikse said.With the shortage, school districts become creative to cover bus routes. Many of Sandusky Schools' athletic trips leave before regular bus routes are finished, meaning a regular driver can cover it and can forgo their normal bus route."If they're on a field trip that leaves before school's out, I've got to call someone in to cover their route," Sandusky Schools transportation director Ted Peters said.On Thursday, for instance, three student trips occurred before the school day ended, so Peters needed three routes covered."I've only got three subs right now and I've got two illnesses. So I've got two routes already torn apart because I don't have the drivers to cover them, which is going to cause delays. In some situations, buses are late to events, which then start later than scheduled.Sandusky City Schools bus driver Jerra Shafrath smiles as she looks at the students on her bus on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018."We don't like to do that, but all the districts are running into that situation," Peters said.Unlike with substitute teachers, substitute bus drivers aren't pulled from a private staffing service, making the task harder."We can't do that," Peters said. "We have to have trained bus drivers on staff or we can't do what we have to do."At Huron Schools, the district has two full-time substitute bus drivers with maintenance and custodial staff who can step in, too."All it takes for one or two people who are sick or something happens and we're short (of bus drivers)," Carter said. "We don't want to get into a bind. Our priorities are to get kids to and from school and their trips."Students from Osborne Elementary board the school bus on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, in Sandusky,Becoming a bus driverThe process for becoming a school bus driver begins with applying through school districts' websites. They can also send an email to the district's transportation director noting interest. Potential bus drivers must be good with children and have good communication skills.Being a bus driver can be convenient for retirees and parents of school children, since the schedule is similar to a school day, officials said. And like students, bus drivers have summers off.To drive a school bus, a class B commercial driver's license is needed and a trainer on the district's staff can help someone obtain a license. For more training, people need to take class through the Ohio Department of Education, which takes about a week for three hours a day. Instructors go over student management, emergency situations, among other necessary topics. After completing the class, candidates must pass a written test and must have a minimum of 14 hours driving experience with the trainer before taking a driving test. A background check, drug testing and a physical are also necessary, in addition to a good driving record."We'll look case by case for what someone has," Peters said. "It doesn't necessarily have to be totally clean, but someone can't have somebody with three DUIs or something pretty atrocious." A school bus backs out of its parking spot as it heads to pick up students after school in Sandusky on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018.With school board approval, an individual can go through trial rides to get used to transporting students with the trainer."Once they feel comfortable, we'll let them go solo," Peters said. "With more comfort, they'll get more routes to do."The next state classes for interested drivers begin Oct. 1 in Norwalk."It can be a tough job," Peters said. "You're doing something different every day."The benefits of bus driving Multiple benefits come with being a bus driver.Starting out as a substitute driver can lead to full-time employment with benefits and compensation packages. At area school districts, bus drivers usually work about two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. "We do work our subs," Peters said. "If they're good, we'll find work for them. A good sub tends to move up the list quickly. When you get a route and become a regular driver, the pay goes up per union contract. If you're a regular driver, you can drive field trips. There's money to be made doing those if you're not afraid to drive."When students get on a bus, it can set the tone for their day. "You're the first school person they see in the morning, you welcome them to school and you say goodbye at the end," Carter said. "It's another way for people to get involved in the community and with kids and it's getting your foot in the door with the school district."While driving her route, Sandusky City School bus driver Jerra Shafrath looks for cars before making a turn on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018.Building relationships with students can prove to be meaningful, too. Students from Peters' days as a bus driver, some of whom are now in their 40s, remember him and say hello."How do you beat that?" Peters said. "It's all about the kids. There's not one person that's started driving bus and looked at it as a career, but once it gets in your blood, it doesn't leave. Anybody that's worth having around would hang their hat on that."At times, bus drivers listen to students talk about their day and may know more about what's going on in students' lives than parents do.Sometimes, students are referred to counselors and children's services for help. "They want someone to talk to," Peters said. "And that's the kind of stuff that makes you come back every year. It's more than a job."SCCS kindergarten student Zoeyanna Bukovsky shows bus driver Jerra Shafrath a picture she colored at school on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018.Want to become a bus driver?You can apply online to become a bus driver at each school district's website:Sandusky Schools: scs-k12.netHuron Schools: huronhs.comPerkins Schools: perkinsschools.orgMargaretta Schools: margaretta.k12.oh.usEdison Schools: edisonchargers.orgA mirror reflects the school bus driven by Jerra Shafrath on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018.Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook.com/CaitliNearhoodBus driver Jerra Shafrath sweeps the floors of the bus after finishing her route on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, in Sandusky.Bus driver Jerra Shafrath makes a turn while driving her after school route in Sandusky on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018.