![]() ![]() One of those drivers answering the state’s call is WFSB’s longtime weekend anchor and New London Bureau Chief Kevin Hogan. Starting pay for bus drivers is around $19 an hour with the ability to choose hours throughout the day or take on additional hours for field trips and athletic events. That might not seem like a lot but it was when we had nobody out there.” … We were able to obtain over 200 applicants ready to drive a bus. We worked together and sent out letters to every CDL operator out there who was retired. “The first thing we did is put our heads together as state agencies about how we can get more people to drive buses. “We had a crisis when COVID hit, we lost a lot of school bus drivers,” DMV Deputy Commissioner Tony Guerrera said. Lamont’s office, Department of Education, Department of Children and Families, and the DMV joined hands in identifying and addressing areas to speed up the application process. “It used to take up to six weeks to complete a background check, but now it takes 24 to 27 hours for those background checks to be made available,” DMV Commissioner Sibongile Magubane said.Ī multi-agency task force including Gov. In addition, applicants must have an acceptable driving record, possess good moral character, pass a medical exam and criminal background check, and not be listed on the sex offender or child abuse registries. To drive a school bus, a person must obtain a commercial driver’s license and the required license endorsements. The state has also streamlined parts of the application process making it quicker for job seekers to begin training. In Old Saybrook, the Connecticut School Transportation Association board members and staff are joined by state officials to talk about the driver shortage and the important role school bus drivers serve in schools and communities. So for those that are looking to change industries or try something new, please reach out to your local school bus companies.” We want to let the press know, let moms and dads know, let all the communities know how short we are in terms of staffing. “Every location in the state of Connecticut that operates school buses is looking for drivers. “We are hiring,” Jon Hipsher, chief operating officer of M&J Bus Inc. But an ongoing shortage of school bus drivers has forced districts to use methods like cutting routes or doubling up on kids on buses to stretch those they do have. Michel, like many of the state’s school bus drivers are drawn to the job because of the flexibility in hours, child care and 401K benefits, and independence away from the office. ![]() They listen to their music, they converse with one another and I always greet them with a smile so that they can enter the classroom on a positive note.” “Besides their parents, we’re the first person the children meet in the morning on their way to school and the last person before they return home,” Michel said. Michel, who had been driving for private van companies before, said it’s the connection with the children that makes the role so special. Annie Michel has been driving a school bus in New Haven for just over a year now. ![]()
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