Conroe ISD is still facing a school bus driver shortage in its fourth week of the fall semester and will host a job fair to help fill the more than 30 vacancies.
Earlier this year, Superintendent Curtis Null said the district has struggled with the driver shortage for several years including leaning on office staff to “keep it afloat.”
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Chris McCord, assistant superintendent of operations for CISD, said the district has leaned on all its transportation staff to ensure those routes are covered.
“Currently regular and standby drivers are all driving,” McCord said. “Additionally, (commercial driver’s license) certified office staff and mechanics are also driving routes.”
The job fair is from 9:30 a.m. to noon Sept. 12 at the Oak Ridge Transportation Center at 27110 Geffert Wright Road. The district also is hiring office staff, bus monitors and mechanics.
CISD has more than 360 bus routes, an increase over last year’s 320.
McCord said covering routes even with standby drivers as the district grows has become difficult and has resulted in routes being split among two or more buses to ensure all students are transported.
It’s important to have a dedicated driver for each route so they know the routes and students, parents and special situations related to the routes, McCord said.
“That is ideal,” he said. “That is what we are constantly striving to do.”
To become a bus driver, a commercial driver’s license is required and the district does help cover that cost.
“We will train you along the way, we will pay you along the way,” McCord said.
Anyone interested in becoming a bus driver can go to www.conroeisd.net or call 936-709-5986.