Bus Driver Fair Friday Aims To Fill 95 Vacancies With HCPSS

Columbia MD

14 October, 2021

9:53 AM

Description

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The nationwide bus shortage has hit home, causing the Howard County Public School System to double up on its school bus routes this year. In the hopes of eliminating the local shortage, the school district will host a bus driver hiring fair Friday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Wilde Lake High School Cafeteria. Brian Bassett, spokesperson for HCPSS, said that at last count, the district was short 95 drivers. He hopes to hire 95 drivers Friday at the hiring fair. "But even the hiring of a single driver will be one more than we have currently," Bassett told Patch. "Our transportation office and contractors have done a wonderful job building a new transportation plan for this school year that incorporates double routes at several schools to account for the shortage. However, this is certainly not an ideal situation." With double routes, a bus would pick up and drop off students assigned to Group A and then circle back to pick up Group B, for example. This creates a larger-than-usual window of time between when the first students are dropped off at school and the time instruction begins. The HCPSS hiring event is open to individuals who: Are at least 21 year of age,Have a clean driving record, andHave a clean criminal record. No registration is required to attend the event. Attendees are encouraged but not required to bring a resume and complete driving record from the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Masking is required. Event attendees will have the opportunity to interview with HCPSS bus contractors and potentially be hired on the spot.