Thornapple Kellogg — Hoping to quell fears of getting behind the wheel of a big, yellow bus, the district recently invited people to give it a try during the “Test Drive a School Bus” event.
The district is looking to fill four open positions for part- and full-time bus drivers, said Transportation Director Chuck Walker.
“We need drivers,” he said. “Many people are often intimidated by the size of the bus, and that’s why we wanted to give people opportunities to test drive one.”
Walker set up shop in the Thornapple Kellogg Middle School parking lot for a few hours around lunchtime and then again in the evening to give individuals a chance to drive a real school bus in a safe environment, alongside trainer and driver Brad Ashcraft.
Ashcraft instructed each driver on how to open and close the bus doors, adjust the driver seat and, most importantly, how to brake. He then guided them through driving the bus around cones, backing up and pulling in and out of a parking space.
Following the event, Walker said he interviewed two people who attended and received several applications. He now has six interviews scheduled in the coming weeks for new bus drivers.
More information about becoming a bus driver can be found on the district’s transportation department’s website.
“Bus drivers have day-to-day flexibility in (their) schedule and have summers, holidays and weekends off,” Walker said.
Other bus driver benefits include guaranteed minimum 30-hour work weeks during the school year, with extra opportunities to drive for field trips and sporting events available.
Ashcroft said the best part of being a bus driver is watching students grow up.
“They remember you even when you don’t remember every one of their names,” he said.
Walker added: “As bus drivers, we have an opportunity to build relationships with kids in the community. You’re the first ‘hello’ students hear in the morning and the last ‘goodbye’ in the afternoon.”
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