Greece schools host bus driver recruitment event, Rep. Morelle spoke bus driver shortage bill

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Congressman Joe Morelle met with community leaders on Wednesday in Rochester to discuss his bill to address bus driver shortages. This comes on the same day that Greece Central School District is hosting a recruitment event for bus staff.

Recruitment event

The recruitment event is on Wednesday, August 17 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. It’s at the Transportation and Support Services Facility on 1790 Latta Road in Rochester. Open interviews are availiable

Here are the minimum starting rates in Greece:

• Bus drivers, $22.25 per hour
• Bus attendant, $16 per hour
• Driver trainee, $13.20 per hour
• Sub driver, $18.25 per hour
• Sub attendant, $15 per hour

Bus driver bill

Rep. Morelle spoke at the Council Rock Primary School bus loop in Brighton. He said the proposed “Get our Kids to School Act” is designed to make the bus driver application process easier.

The act would extend a waiver to allow school bus drivers to forgo certain vehicle testing requirements for a commercial driver’s license.

“Unfortunately the waiver was issued for such a short period of time that the majority of states including New York did not have enough time to take advantage of the waiver,” Morelle said. “So my legislation would extend the waiver for a year long period giving states plenty of time to make the change to get more bus drivers in the pipeline.”

last school year, some districts were forced to change bus routes, use remote learning and alter class schedules because of the shortage.

In fall of 2021, The Rochester City School District was short on 70 bus drivers, which caused transportation delays for students early in the school year. RCSD and other local school districts had to change bus routes, use remote learning, and alter class schedules because of the shortage. RCSD enacted.

Morelle will be at the Council Rock Primary School bus loop in Brighton at 10 a.m.