Beckley, WV (WOAY) – With another academic year on the horizon, Raleigh County Schools is looking to fill a shortage of bus drivers.
Many childhood memories are made on the bus. But that would not be possible without bus drivers.
This position plays a very important role in transportation throughout the school year.
“We have 119 full-time runs in Raleigh County, and 16 substitutes, with eight retired substitutes only working certain days a week or hours a month that depend on their social security,” said Director of Transportation Christopher Toney.
According to Toney, the subs take care of each other if one of their individuals is sick and needs to take off. So they would like to add ten more individuals to sub throughout the county.
To help solve this problem, the Department of Transportation will begin a month-long class that starts on July 14.
“You have to go through your DMV and the state director’s portion to get state certified,” Toney said. “Individuals don’t have to have a CDL to come out here, we’ll help them get their Class B with their passenger and school bus endorsements. It’s 40 hours of in-class training, 12 hours of driving, and two hours have to be at nighttime.”
There are many benefits to the job.
“They get approximately $148 a day for morning and evening,” said the Director of Transportation. “We always tell the individuals this is a good opportunity, especially if they’re retired or come from somewhere else, have another income, or are looking for a schedule with their children, or they want the holidays off, this is a wonderful opportunity.”
You do not have to be a Raleigh County resident to apply.
The only requirements are: Must be 21 years old and have three years of experience as a driver.
“If individuals are eligible and would like to call in to the office, we’d be more than happy to try to get them a scheduled interview before the class starts on Monday (July 14),” Toney said. “If not, we have another class that will probably start in the fall sometime.”
