Success With Recruiting and Retaining Bus Drivers

Photo credit: Toledo Public Schools

Program Description and Purpose

Toledo Public Schools (TPS) amended their contract language so that bus drivers now have a guaranteed full-time role as one step to improve the recruitment and retention of bus drivers.

Partners

TPS partnered with their transportation union to amend the contract language. TPS also partners with the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) and other third-party transportation systems to meet student transportation needs.

How it Works

The amended contracts provided all bus drivers with full-time (8-hour) coverage, which included full-time pay and benefits packages. To meet the 8 hours, TPS strategically assigns bus drivers to morning routes, afternoon routes, and midday transportation needs (e.g., class field trips). Some bus drivers filled in-school roles as needed between their morning and afternoon routes (e.g., serving as an aid during elementary recess time).

TPS developed a high school shuttle bus system to increase efficiency in bus routes and partners with local transportation systems to meet student transportation needs. The shuttle bus system provides routes for buses that are similar to those of a community bussing system for high school students. TPS partners with TARTA and other third-party transportation systems to meet ad hoc student transportation needs. For example, TPS can purchase TARTA passes at a discounted rate and provide them to students who attend specialized schools on the opposite side of the city from where they live.

Benefits for Participants

District bus drivers receive full-time pay and benefits packages, while also having consistent morning and afternoon bus routes.

Benefits for The District

This approach helps the district to guarantee bus driver staffing needs are met. It has led to increased retention of bus drivers and decreased the recruitment need for finding bus drivers. Students benefit from guaranteed transportation services that meet their education needs. A TPS representative mentioned the importance of consistent bus drivers for morning and afternoon routes. The relationship between bus drivers and students is critical because bus drivers are often the first to greet students in the morning and say goodbye in the afternoon. The third-party partnerships help TPS achieve efficiency while meeting the needs of drivers.