Bibb County school employees are training to be licensed school bus drivers. The employees trained on Wednesday and Henderson Stadium. They learned how to parallel park, inspect the buses, and how to look out for road signs and railroad crossings. Some students said they've been training all week.
Rutland High School Coach Cindy Folendore is getting certified so she can drive her tennis and cross country teams to games and tournaments. “It's fun. It's not bad at all,” said Folendore. “It's not difficult. It's like driving a full-sized car.”
For some, driving is easy, but it's a lengthy application process. To become a bus driver in Bibb County, you have to apply online and interview. You must pass a background check and a written test for the Commercial Driver's License permit. You also must pass the driving test.
There's a lot that drivers have to learn, and most of the training doesn’t happen behind the wheel. Bibb County Driving Instructor Enos Curry said the driving students take class after field training to learn policy and procedures. “After they leave here, they go inside the classroom because they have 12 hours of classroom training and instruction.”
Curry said the licensing takes time, and it's hard to find drivers. “Most transportation departments have a bus driver shortage because of lack of pay,” said Curry. “And now with the times being so different, the upbringing of children is different.”
But Curry has seventeen years of experience, and he said he's not afraid to enforce the rules on his bus. “I am a disciplinarian,” said Curry. “Because when you enforce the rules, it ensures the safety of the students as well as it protects you as the driver.”
Folendore says she's looking forward to driving her teams. “High school is a little bit more mature, so I think it'll be fine.”
Bibb County District Schools did give bus drivers a pay increase, but they still need two bus drivers and a bus monitor. You can apply for those positions on their website. School officials in Baldwin County say they need more bus drivers. They have three full-time bus driver positions and three substitute bus driver positions open on their website.