4/6/2023 0 Comments Bus driver shortage![]() ![]() The district reported employing 11,382 teachers in February, down from 11,626 teachers last February. In February 2022, the district had 837 child nutrition services positions, 715 of which were filled and 122 of which were vacant, about a 15.3% vacancy rate. For example, the district had 777 child nutrition service positions, 695 of which were filled and 82 of which were vacant this February, about a 10.6% vacancy rate. The district has reduced its overall positions since last school year, affecting the vacancy rates. The district is hosting fewer student-teachers this spring - 191 - than it did last spring, when it hosted 232. At the same time, the pool of college graduates with education degrees has been shrinking. The district continues to pursue student teachers and its Future Teachers program, which promises to pay the professional development costs of Wake County students who go to college, get their education degree and return to the district as teachers. The district had 146 alternatively license teachers during the 2020-21 school year, 390 alternatively licensed teachers last year and employs 400 alternatively licensed teachers this year. That’s coincided with a rise in teachers coming into the profession from “alternative” pathways - or a route other than an education bachelor’s degree. The district has more than 11,000 teachers overall. That rose to 1,711 the next year and is now 2,072 this year. That’s a higher starting pay than in neighboring counties except for Durham Public Schools, where drivers start at $18.13 per hour, and Johnston County, where drivers start at $17.50 per hour but don’t move up the pay scale.ĭuring the 2020-21 school year, the district employed 1,453 “beginning” teachers - teachers in their first three years. Over the past year and a half, the school system has raised hourly starting pay for busing drivers from $15 to $17.20, with a $1,200 hiring bonus for new drivers. Part of the shortage is exacerbated when employees are absent for any reason. The board is so far not scheduled to vote on any items related to its vacancy numbers.īut the board will review potential attendance bonuses for employees during a meeting March 21. Meanwhile, Heagarty said, the board must make other policy decisions - such as not changing school start or end times - based on driver limitations. “That’s something a lot of sectors of the economy aren’t seeing,” Heagarty said. He noted some positive news in vacancy rates improving for other professions. ![]() “Obviously the vacancy rate for bus drivers is very concerning,” Board Member Chris Heagarty said. ![]() Other North Carolina school systems are having similar difficulties, along with districts across the country. The district is not unique in struggling to hire bus drivers. ![]()
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