A growing list: school bus driver shortage expands throughout the region
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (7News) — As more and more students head back to school, 7News is tracking a growing list of local school districts that are experiencing school bus driver shortages.
In Maryland, Prince George's County Public Schools has said it needs to hire about 200 bus drivers. Montgomery County Public Schools said its looking to hire about 100 drivers.
Frederick County Public Schools is short as well.
In Virginia, the Stafford County school board just voted to increase signing bonuses and starting pay for bus drivers, as they're currently short more than 40 people behind the wheel.
RELATED: Stafford Co. school board approves sign-on bonuses, pay increase amid bus driver shortage
Prince William County Public schools has about 100 vacancies and 44 drivers currently in training.
Loudoun County Public Schools is short about 50 bus drivers, and Arlington Public Schools needs to hire about 24 drivers.
In our area's largest school district, Fairfax County Public Schools didn't provide specific numbers, but the transportation department acknowledged that they're also dealing with a shortage.
"At this time, we currently have a fleet of about 1,600 school buses, and we have about 1,100 bus drivers, and we are always looking to increase our bus driver pool," said Francine Furby, Director of Transportation Services for Fairfax County Public Schools. "We are looking for drivers, it's ongoing all the time. That number is fluid with how many drivers we need and how many vacancies we have."
The first day of school for Fairfax County's more than 180,000 students is Monday, August 23.
"This is a nationwide issue that we're facing, with having a shortage of bus drivers," said Furby. "It's not just in Fairfax, and it's something we realize is critical."
That's why FCPS held a bus driver job fair on Wednesday. The school district is offering paid training, plus $2,000 signing bonuses to new drivers.
"I would like to apply for a bus driver job, since I retired," job applicant Roberto Betancourt told 7News.
As he filled out his application at the FCPS bus driver job fair, Betancourt explained that he actually worked as an FCPS bus driver back in 2010.
He still has his commercial driver's license, and decided to come out of retirement to help meet the need.
"I have my grandsons, and I love them a lot, and that's the reason," he said. "I would like to come back to work with kids."
As for why he thinks this school bus driver shortage is so widespread, Betancourt believes the coronavirus pandemic is partly to blame.
"So many people looked for different jobs because they were out of jobs," he said. "I have so many friends who found different jobs, and they don't want to come back to drive."
The 2021-2022 school year marks a return to full-time, in-person learning for school districts after many were all-virtual for much of the 2020-2021 school year.
In the effort to recruit new bus drivers, Betancourt does feel that the signing bonuses are an effective incentive.
"It helps us a lot. $2,000 is a lot of money," he said.
Since he already has his CDL, 7News asked whether Stafford County's new $3,000 signing bonus to drivers with a CDL might entice him to apply to be a bus driver there instead of Fairfax County.
"Well, if I lived closer to Stafford County I would apply," he said. "But I live in Fairfax, you know?"
