Why Maine Needs More Bus Drivers Now

With 80 driver openings, districts are scrambling to make sure everyone arrives on time.

School safety is of the upmost importance and losing just a couple bus drivers in a district like Brunswick highly affects everyone and creates this ripple.

You see, Brunswick serves about 2,500 students and losing just a few is bad, so 80 in total, is massive loss statewide.

Brunswick’s superintendent Phillip Potenziano said that because of this shortage, they’ve had to merge together bus runs, double up sports teams on buses, and even cancel some of the after-school activities, as per the article.

80% of the students in the state rely on taking the bus to and from school, according to the Maine Department of Education. And parents are most certainly feeling the pressure because when a bus is late the entire day can unravel.

According to the article, being a bus driver in Maine requires you to obtain a commercial driver's license or CDL.

Pass a written test and driving test as well as complete ongoing yearly physicals and training to handle everything from tough winter driving and managing a bus filled with kiddos.

In order to pull more applicants in, some school districts are raising wages, but it’s proven to continue to be a challenge.

If this intrigues you, now would be the perfect time in Maine to become that one driver the kids always love to see.

Because, let’s be honest, being a bus driver is hard work, and they aren’t just employees of the districts they serve.

They are the first face Maine kids see in the morning and they impact children too deeply. We all remember our favorite school bus driver and now is the time Maine could use more of them.