KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Osceola County School District’s Transportation Department held another job fair Tuesday to address an ongoing bus driver shortage.

What You Need To Know

  • School bus driver shortages continue in Central Florida

  • Osceola County School District held job fair Tuesday

  • District operates 242 bus routes, 26 of which don’t have a permanent driver

The district operates 242 bus routes to service around 26,000 students, but 26 of those routes don’t have a permanent driver, according to Randy Wheeler, assistant director of transportation. That means the current drivers have to help pick up the slack by taking on additional bus stops.

“Our staff, the drivers and attendants that are here today, are working harder, they’re working longer,” he said. “They’re transporting more kids than their own planned route.”

A dozen people submitted applications at Tuesday’s job fair, according to Community Relations Specialist Zachary Downes. Those interested in applying can also go to the department’s compound at 401 Simpson Road in Kissimmee during business hours.

One of the job fair applicants was Daisy Gainous of Kissimmee. She has four kids in the school district and feels she would make a good bus driver.

“I want them to feel comfortable because when I was going to school, with the school bus drivers, it was not that good,” she told News 13. “They were too strict. I did not like that.”

Wheeler said starting salary for a trained bus driver is $13.80 per hour, up 35 cents from last school year. The drivers can expect to work at least six hours a day, five days a week.

Driver shortages became significant last school year, and Wheeler said the situation was exacerbated by the pandemic, with some drivers who had pre-existing health conditions deciding to leave the job and others choosing other avenues. 

Wheeler would like to see the starting salary go up — that decision rests with the school board — but believes that won’t solve the ongoing shortage.

“I believe because so many people are choosing to shy away to this type of work, it’s not going to cure the problem for us,” he said.

Several other school districts in Central Florida are dealing with bus driver shortages, including Orange and Seminole counties.

Orange County Public Schools is looking to hire around 100 drivers to cover vacancies, absences, longterm leave and workers’ comp, according to the district’s media relations manager, Michael Ollendorff. The pay range is $13.24 to $15.89 per hour, plus a $1,000 sign-on bonus being offered “to entice more people to join OCPS Transportation," he said.

Seminole County Public Schools hopes to hire around 40 drivers to help with its ongoing shortage. Starting salary there is $14.53 per hour.