There are many reasons that contribute to the current bus driver shortage within the stables of Houston ISD (Independent Schools District) of other Independent School Districts that run adjacent to it. But the top three reasons that stand out are the following:
THE PAY
CONFLICTING WORK LIFE BALANCE
OUT OF CONTROL KIDS
Starting with the pay, yes, it's true that Houston ISD boosted the pay of their bus drivers to $19.00 an hour. That a 16% pay increase in pay over the last 2 years. Some Independent School Districts are trying to entice people to apply for jobs by offering free CDL training and sign on bonuses. Sounds like a lot right - but it isn't. When you consider the fact that inflation combined with “shrinkflation” is sweeping across not only Houston, but the entire United States.
The 16% increase or grand total of $19.00 an hour barely makes a dent in the normal bills people have to pay every month. Just the food bill alone is setting a lot of people back across this country. So, to be somewhat secure financially in these current days and times one would need to earn at least $25.00 an hour in order to compensate for not only the current rate of inflation but shrinkflation as well.
More often than not there are conflicting work-life balances for school bus drivers not only just within the confines of Houston ISD but across this country – and for anyone else that has kids. Focusing specifically on school bus drivers, they often have to make special childcare accommodations that can prove to be costly not only for their own children but anyone else that might be under their care. Moreover, when there is a conflicting work life balance, people can only work in these conditions for so long until it costs them on a socio-economic basis. Remember no one can serve two masters.
Last but not least, who really wants to deal with someone else’s bad a** kids? With all that screaming and hollering that goes on the bus in bad traffic and bad weather conditions, combined with kids that had behavioral issues which often times lead to fights on the bus and what not - who really wants to subject themselves to that? This is especially true when school bus drivers have their own crazy a** kids at home and are more than likely struggling to deal with what seems like a mountain of bills they have no idea how they're going to pay.
As far as incentives such as sign-on bonuses and free CDL training are concerned, that simply doesn't work as a long-term solution either. Why? Because the sign on bonuses that are being delt just aren't enough for most people. adding insult to injury, there are people out there that will take advantage of the free training and sign on bonuses simply to get hired, work their contract, leave and go to a trucking company that pays them significantly more than what any school district could ever pay a CDL holder. Hence, the incitive becomes nothing more than a “steppingstone” for applicants to go elsewhere.
So, the best thing that can happen is that if the kids are 14 and up and they live where there is adequate public transportation - they should consider doing that. If that happens, it will take the weight off of so many bus drivers and it will economically ease the burden of cost that Independent School Districts have to pay. We recommended starting a student bus pass card program with local public transportation authority's such as Houston's Metro if there isn't one in place already in your area. As a kicker to parents, it can also provide them with some ease because they can actually do what they need to do in order to keep the bills paid instead of sitting in those ridiculous long lines at a school waiting to pick the kid(s) up losing money.
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