School District 68 is taking a proactive approach with a potential shortage of available bus drivers in the months and years to come. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

driver jobs

SD68 trying to proactively solve shortage of trained bus drivers

Jun 15, 2022 | 5:32 AM

NANAIMO — Local school district officials are examining new ways to ensure the wheels on the bus continue going round and round.

The now-universal issue is beginning to hit School District 68 and the number of bus drivers trained, ready and willing to shuttle kids to and from school daily.

Tracy Mowatt, the district’s manager of transportation, told trustees at a recent meeting their challenges revolve around bringing in people with the required license for something which is less than full time.

“It is difficult, particularly because we bring them on first off as a casual and so that’s where we’re talking about those positions where we’re trying to make the full time positions because it is difficult for people to come on and only have un-guaranteed work.”

Mowatt said everything is on the table in terms of finding a solution, with making the jobs full time or paying for training at or near the top of the list.

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Work is ongoing with human resources to adjust job descriptions and requirements to be hired. Mowatt said many applicants might have the required license, but not the desired two years of driving experience.

While no issues have arisen on the road yet, it’s something the District is monitoring carefully according to secretary-treasurer Mark Walsh.

“Some of the things we might have to look at are do we collapse two routes into one? So the impact of course would be longer rides for kids or waiting longer at the school to be picked up which is not ideal.”

Walsh added they’re also looking at rounding out bus driver positions, which typically involve a few hours in the morning and then another set of hours in the afternoon, to full-time status and have those workers complete other tasks in between bus driving duties.

School District 68 employes 21 drivers who drive the same routes on a daily basis, however some are also used for field trips and other school activities.

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