The first day of a new semester for teachers is always a busy one, filled with new schedules, new lesson plans and, often, new challenges.
In short, it’s a time for firsts.
However, elementary school teacher Mark Yeaton experienced a particularly unique “first” on Jan. 5: his first solo route as a new bus driver.
Yeaton, who teaches fourth grade at Southside Elementary, is the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.’s first and only teacher to simultaneously serve as a bus driver, said director of operations Brett Boezeman.
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Originally, Yeaton was supposed to be accompanied by the route’s previous driver, but that man ended up having to drive a different route. However, Yeaton was able to get some help from his passengers.
“I knew the roads,” he said. “I just didn’t know where all of the kids were in the dark. So I picked up the first kid and I said, ‘You are now my copilot, and help me with who I’m picking up next.’ And that went really well.”
He noted that since some of his riders are secondary students (who transfer from Southside to other buses before he picks up his elementary riders), he technically had two first days since the hybrid model means that about only half of those students attend in-person at a time.
Yeaton is new to bus driving, though he has had past experience driving a large delivery truck. He’s wanted to drive a bus for a while and started the process of becoming a school bus driver in November.
“I’m probably looking at retiring at some point in future, and I thought this would be a good retirement gig,” he said. “It takes care of insurance and I’d still get the same schedule I’ve had since 1967 when I started at Parkside as a student. I get to hang out with my grandkids when they’re off for the summer and spring break and all that. And I still get excited for a snow day.”
Yeaton said that when he retires from being a teacher, he might stay on as a bus driver since it would provide pay and insurance — and he doesn’t see himself “sitting around the house” in his retirement. Being a driver also provides him a chance to get out of the classroom some, he said, as well as potentially take teams to sporting events.
Yeaton’s decision was also influenced by a problem facing BCSC and many other school districts: bus driver shortages.
In School Bus Fleet Magazine’s 2019 district fleet survey, 88% of respondents reported a bus driver shortage, broken down as follows:
38% — Moderate shortage (6-10% short of drivers)
26% — Mild shortage (1-5% short)
17% — Severe shortage (11-15% short)
7% — Desperate shortage (at least 16% short)
Only 12% of respondents reported that they had no shortage.
On a local level, Boezeman said that BCSC’s transportation hasn’t been fully staffed in eight years. He said that one reason school districts struggle to fill these jobs is because most bus drivers are split between morning and afternoon, which can make staffing a challenge.
As a solution to this problem, he said that BCSC is offering “mid-day work opportunities,” such as custodial jobs between routes for additional pay. He said that this strategy has been adopted not just for employee recruitment, but also retention.
In addition to needing more drivers, BCSC’s transportation department also has an opening for a garage mechanic, Boezeman said.
Transportation director Bruce Lasley said that BCSC has 90 bus routes, 86 contract drivers and three part-time sub drivers (meaning they can only drive certain days).
Boezeman said that, in an ideal world, he would like to fill 110 transportation jobs, including drivers. Currently, eight people are in training to drive buses. Boezeman said that many people have replied to the school corporation’s recent advertisements for more transportation workers, but some have chosen not to apply after learning how much training is involved.
Lasley said that requirements for new bus drivers include:
A background check
A CDL physical
A CDL drug test
Three day bus safety training (per state guidelines)
A CDL beginner’s permit
On-the-job training
Eight hours of observation
Eight hours of driving (while supervised by a CDL driver)
Boezeman said that the whole hiring process, from the time of an interview to the point of driving a bus with kids, can take about four to six weeks depending on the individual’s availability to train. He added that once candidates’ background checks clear, they receive an hourly wage.
In addition to training requirements, Yeaton noted that some people might be intimidated by the idea of driving a large vehicle or supervising so many children at once. In regards to the driving, he said it’s something you get used to.
As for the passengers, he said, “The kids did a great job. Maybe it’s because they knew I was a teacher, and I have some of my own students on the bus, so I’m with them from the time I pick them up, all day, and I’m going to take them home again. And that thing plays to my favor. Why would that kid want to goof off and be a pain in the neck when I’m going to be going to his house every day?”
Yeaton said being a bus driver is also a good fit for him because it means that, if and when BCSC resumes field trips, he can drive his class and waive the driver fee, which will lower trip costs.
Boezeman said that, at present, there aren’t any other teachers in training to drive buses, though BCSC has made the opportunity known.
Yeaton said that he hopes other teachers and staff become drivers in the future.
More information about BCSC transportation jobs and benefits is available at bcscschools.org and the district’s Facebook page. An interest form can be filled out at bit.ly/bcsctransportation.
“Driving a school bus is much easier than most people think,” Boezeman said. “If anyone is intimidated by the thought, we offer prospective employees the chance to drive a bus within the lot to try it out.”
“The need is great,” said Yeaton. “…You’re never too old to develop a new skill set.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”By the numbers” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
- Number of BCSC routes: 90
- Number of BCSC contract drivers: 86
- Number of part-time sub drivers: 3
- Number of people in training to drive buses: 8
- Number of transportation jobs the school corp. would like to fill: 110
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More information about BCSC transportation jobs and benefits is available at bcscschools.org and the district’s Facebook page. An interest form can be filled out at bit.ly/bcsctransportation.
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