In 2019, the Gainesville City school system introduced a bus driver hiring incentive program. New bus drivers were eligible to receive a $1,000 incentive after working a minimum of 115 days. Current bus drivers who referred someone to apply received $500 per referral, up to a maximum of 5 referrals.
The referral fees were paid in May and the new hire must have worked at least 115 days in order to receive the incentive. The $500 payment could be renewed for up to three years, with board approval and if the new hire remains an employee. The system also obtained a bus driver longevity program. If a driver works for five years they may receive $500 for the next nine following years. If a driver works for 10 years, they may receive $1,000 for up to 19 years and the incentive amount continues to increase by another $1,000 per every 10 years a driver works.
“Bus drivers have one of the most difficult jobs in a school system. They are the first to greet our students and the last. We have the best team around and their commitment to our families, especially during COVID, has been phenomenal,” Gainesville City School System Superintendent Jeremy Williams said.
Another pandemic-related issue for Hall County is the process and time needed when an individual on a bus tests positive for COVID-19, Lewis said. He said the district personnel must contact trace and its team members must spend hours reviewing bus video footage to determine who’s been in direct contact with the individual.
Since the return of in-person classes, buses are sanitized twice a day, sanitizer containers have been installed and bus drivers and riders must wear masks, Lewis said. The district is working on a bus sanitization project designed to keep surfaces on buses germ and virus free for extended periods of time, Lewis said. He said the process involves cleaning, disinfecting and coating with a protectant. More details on the project will be released in the coming weeks, Lewis said.
For the Gainesville City school system, Jones-Mayweather said they’ve implemented assigned seats for students on the bus to ensure social distancing. There is also a morning and evening cleaning crew that sanitizes the buses, Jones-Mayweather said.
Despite recent transportation challenges, Hobbs said he’s grateful for the bus drivers and staff who assist in providing safe and reliable transportation for students.
“I am so proud of the people that work in this department. Those bus drivers that have been with us all the way through this pandemic,” Hobbs said. “Many of them have health issues and they chose to continue to serve the community and put their health at risk.”
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March 12, 2021 at 07:24AM
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How Hall, Gainesville schools are handling bus driver shortfall, other pandemic problems - Gainesville Times
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