MSD of Martinsville looking for bus drivers

MARTINSVILLE — A growing shortage of bus drivers has occurred in school districts across the state, and the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville is not immune to this crisis. 

"As different things have happened in the COVID world, it's just really magnified (the shortage)," Dennis Mills, the transportation director for the district, said. 

Mills said he and his mechanical staff were currently driving the buses to fill in for the shortages. 

"Every available driver we have is driving," Mills noted. "So if we run into an issue after that... we have to double up, and of course then people are going to be late." 

More:Monroe-Gregg staff, students must wear masks in schools.

Others are reading: Mooresville School Board talks $55M budget.

Mills said bus drivers will be reimbursed for their time for training, documentation and drive time training. 

Julie Blakely is the trainer who works with incoming bus drivers. 

"We're here to help you along the way," Mills added. "We're not just going to let fill out an application and say 'Okay go get your CDL (Commercial Driver's License).'" 

Mills also emphasized the importance of having consistent bus drivers in the district. 

"They're the first ones that are going to see the student in the morning and the last ones to let them off in the afternoon," Mills added. "So they make two very important contacts." 

Mills hopes to gain dedicated drivers who will stay with the district for quite some time. 

"Honestly, it's a great job," Mills said. "If you have a student in the district and you're looking for that job that fits that student's schedule, we're working the same hours they are."

The district also uses an app called Zonar MyView, which helps parents track their students along the bus route. 

"The parent can tap into a component of that through the app," Mills said. "You pick your bus, you pick your student... unless someone else knows your exact number, they wouldn't be able to track you." 

Parents can set up an alert zone on the app to tell them when the bus is passing through a certain area. This will help parents know where there children are during the duration of the ride. 

More: Martinsville High School students give back.

"You can set up multiple alerts," Mills said. "It's going to tell you when it arrives at school, when it leaves the school, however multitude of alert zones you want to set up." 

For more information on the app, or to fill out an application for bus driver, visit the MSD of Martinsville website and click on the Departments tab for the transportation and safety information, or click the Resources tab and then Employment. 

Interested parties can also contact Dennis Mills at dennis.mills@msdmartinsville.org o call 765-342-5597.

Contact Reporter-Times reporter Grace Phillips at gphillips@reporter-times.com or at 765-346-4815