[ghoward]

I trained as a school bus driver, and I agree with both of you, but especially the dealing with children part.

I quit my job as a bus driver on my second day because I was stressed out about hurting kids. (Yes, I know school buses are among the safest vehicles on the road; it was an irrational fear.)

But the other part of the equation is the schedule.

You are hired as a part-time employee, no benefits, but the schedule is such that finding a second job is unlikely. In the district I trained in, the schedule was 6-9, 12-2. Those are awkward hours to work around.

[bluGill]

School bus driver is a good job for otherwise stay at home parents. You drive your kids to school and back home everyday and get paid for it. Sure if you drove your own care you could do the round trip in half an hour, while the bus means it takes 2 hours, but you get paid and ensure you kids actually go to school every day. You can also take the babies along with you to work (or at least my school allowed that)

It is also a good I'm retired but need to get out of the house to do something job.

Otherwise yes, you can earn more elsewhere with better hours.

[ghoward]

Replying to say that yes, you are absolutely correct. I spoke quite definitely when there were other options, and you rightly called me out for it.

[UncleOxidant]

Bus drivers get benefits in the district I live in and the pay is not too bad. Still, I'd never consider it because the kids part.

[ghoward]

I'd love to get benefits.

Curious: does your district have a shortage too?

If not, maybe the benefits make the difference?

[UncleOxidant]

They definitely seem to be hiring: https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/departments/transportation/c...

[kevin_thibedeau]

The solution is to recruit teachers to work as drivers.

[effingwewt]

Every teacher I've ever known on a personal level has been overworked and underpaid, and still had to go into their own pockets tl provide things for their class, from what I understand it's common practice at schools now to force costs to the teachers, or have them shunt it to the parents (have student bring X for class!) because we dont already pay for the schools with taxes, lunches, after school programs and electives, uniforms, bake sales, candy drives, etc.

[gruez]

AFAIK teachers are often overworked and/or do extra work outside of the classroom. I doubt they'd want a few extra hours tacked onto their existing schedule.

[hiptobecubic]

The solution is to make the job attractive enough that people are willing to do it.