CALLING ALL VETERANS: HOW TO BE A HERO
Nationwide, there is a huge shortage of school bus drivers. Here in Maine, the situation is much the same. Across our state, 80% of Maine’s students rely on school buses to get to school, well above the 50% national average.
For military veterans transitioning from active duty to retirement, or those already retired, the path toward becoming a school bus driver is well worth taking. Just ask Joelle McIntyre, an Air National Guard veteran and longtime member of Berwick’s Charles S. Hatch Post #79. Joelle, or “Miss Joe” as she is known to her young charges, became a school bus driver for Maine School Administrative District (MSAD) 60 in August of 2022 (MSAD60 serves the communities of North Berwick, Berwick and Lebanon, Maine). She started her academics and training in November of 2021, so the journey from start to finish was relatively quick, once she met several specific qualifications.
First and foremost, aspiring drivers must pass a drug test at the time of employment to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License that is issued by the State of Maine but is federally regulated. Other core requirements: you must be at least 21 years of age, hold a valid driver’s license and have at least one year of driving experience as a licensed motor vehicle operator in good standing, pass a background check that includes fingerprinting and pass an annual physical exam.
Training to become a MSAD60 school bus driver occurs in stages starting with three days in the classroom, followed by time in the bus yard, testing to obtain a permit, and finally a road test. Along the way, inexperienced drivers “graduate” from smaller vehicles, such as small passenger vans or a minibus before progressing to the larger 50+ passenger school buses with time built in to serve as monitors riding with other more experienced licensed drivers. The district provides paid training, health insurance, paid time off, and vision and dental insurance. Salaries while training start at $25/hour and can grow to $32/hour after two years and beyond. The majority of MSAD60 bus drivers are full-time (35 to 40 hours a week) with added driving opportunities available with local recreation departments and summer school.
Assistant School Superintendent A.J. Dufort emphasizes that one of MSAD60’s secret weapons in operating with driver shortages is their flexibility, which extends from a prospective driver’s first training to daily operations. Both training and driving can be tailored to the needs of the school bus driver. The school buses are locally owned by the district, and drivers interact regularly with the on-site mechanics and schedulers to fine tune routes or provide tips. If working a split shift is a showstopper, or you are a “snowbird”, oftentimes accommodations can be made.
Fundamentally, anyone can drive a car after proper testing and training, but it takes someone special to drive a school bus! Joelle makes her bus route fun for her kids and has been known to conduct a sing along or two! A great bus driver is hard to find, difficult to part with and impossible to forget. You too can be a hero and answer the call to help your community by becoming a school bus driver. Details are available at www.indeed.com on the MSAD60 Indeed Careers Page.
Still unsure? Feel free to contact the MSAD60 Transportation Department (207-676-2856) or the district in your vicinity. Choose to become an everyday hero
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Photo Caption: SSgt Joelle “Miss Joe” McIntyre, School Bus Driver Extraordinaire
Photo Credit: Kayleen Elliott