Area school districts hundreds of bus drivers short

The Wake County Public School System might need the most bus drivers in central North Carolina, but its shortage is hardly unique.

WRAL Investigates found that districts in 10 area counties have openings for nearly 400 drivers, from some 220 in Wake County and 75 for Durham Public Schools down to 10 for Franklin County Schools.

Dozens of Wake County school bus drivers called in sick on Friday to protest their workloads and pay scales. The school board is expected to vote next Tuesday on a $1,250 bonus for drivers and other school employees, and Superintendent Cathy Moore said the board also will start looking at boosting pay for drivers who run extra routes each day.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, which is short 28 bus drivers, has rolled out a $500,000 recruitment strategy, with a starting salary between $14.95 and $16.50 per hour. The plan also includes a $4,000 signing bonus, $1,000 referral bonus, paid commercial driver's license training and a guarantee of full-time employment.

Durham Public Schools offers the highest starting salary, at $17 an hour. School bus drivers in Wake County start at $15 an hour.

North Carolina National Guard officials said they stand ready to help fill the bus driver gap.

“At this time, we have not been asked to assist local school districts in operating school buses. Other states have proven this concept, and the North Carolina National Guard is also fully capable of providing a wide variety of assistance, if requested,” Maj. Matthew Boyle said in a statement.

Gov. Roy Cooper would have to make such a request.

“School bus drivers play a critical role for many families," Jordan Monaghan, Cooper's press secretary, said in an email to WRAL News. "The governor is concerned about staffing shortages in our schools and is working with legislators on a budget that he hopes will give schools more resources to address these issues."

Th driver shortage has caused some districts to think outside the box.

Hoke County Schools, for example, needs 16 drivers, and the district is working to recruit firefighters and EMS employees to drive buses on their days off.