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JCPS hoping to alleviate bus driver shortage with a bus hiring event

"We need more drivers. The more drivers we have, the easier it is for everybody.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — To help alleviate the national bus driver shortage at a local level, Jefferson County Public Schools held a Bus Driver Hiring Blitz Saturday.

More than 200 people attended the event.

With 575 bus drivers to cover 550 routes, JCPS says it's not enough - especially with daily call-outs.

JCPS Spokesperson Carolyn Callahan says the district starts every day with more than a 40 driver deficit. 

“We transport 65,000 students to and from school every day. This is such a vital job and our bus drivers are who get our kids to school safely every single day. We’re in the midst of nation-wide bus driver shortage and we’re extremely happy to see these people come out and want to help our kids," Callahan said.

Callahan said there was a line of people ready to apply 30 minutes before the doors to the event even opened.

There were bus drivers at the blitz for prospective candidates to ask questions to, a human resources team to help people with the application process, translators who can help multilingual applicants, and Department of Transportation (DOT) physicals and interviews were done on sight.

“It gives us hope that we’re going to be able to hire a good number of bus drivers from this event," she said.

Credit: WHAS-TV

Ronald Fawbush has been a JCPS bus driver for 10 years. He said he likes the flexibility of the job and the ability to have weekends, holidays, and summers off.

Through his decade of driving, though, he said he's seen a drastic change in available drivers.

“When I first came in we had a lot more drivers. But now, for some reason or another, it’s not as many. But we need more drivers," Fawbush said. "If we don’t have a bus driver we have to double up and not only that but make the students late getting to school. And that can be a little stressful sometimes…especially if a parent is working and they’re trying to wait until the child gets to school. So, the more drivers we have the easier.”

If you're interested in becoming a JCPS bus driver and want to learn more, click here.

► Contact reporter Alex Dederer at adederer@whas11.com or on Twitter.

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