WTSP 10 NEWS is reporting that Tampa Bay is in the midst of a driver shortage crisis, schools across the city scrambling to fill the hundreds of empty positions with viable bodies.
With classes resuming next week, districts are frantic to hire more school bus drivers, who are willing to work for $12.71 an hour, plus access to full health care benefits.
The Hillsborough County district needs 100 more drivers. The Pinellas County district needs 50 bus drivers, although about half of those could soon be filled by applicants that are in various stages of the hiring process.
One official pointed to the the improving economy as a factor to the shortage of drivers.
“We always see when the economy is better there are fewer people taking jobs as school bus drivers,” the official said. “It’s great for us as a nation but not so great as a large school district.”
Florida school leaders across the bay area are hosting school bus driver job fairs and working fast and furious to get the drivers hired so they can start practicing their routes before school begins in the coming weeks.
