The “help wanted” sign is out as Macomb School District 185 prepares to handle its own transportation services.
Superintendent Patrick Twomey said they’re looking for full and part-time bus drivers, and he said the district can be flexible with schedules.
“If you’re somebody out there who says, I wouldn’t mind driving but I’d only like to drive two days a week, call us. That would be fantastic because we’ll pair you with somebody who only wants to drive three days a week, and then we’ll have a full-time driver,” he said.
The district’s phone number is (309) 833-4161.
Twomey said those interested should contact the district soon so they can begin the training, which takes about two months.
The district will offer a few different pay rates, depending on the type of driver:
- The rate for regular and substitute drivers is $24.50 per hour
- Custodian/Substitute and Program Assistant/Substitute drivers also start at $24.50 per hour
- Custodian/driver and Program Assistant/driver start at $22.50 per hour
Twomey said the district must cover 21 bus routes, and he’s confident they can get the job done.
“I’ve always talked about how this community supports education, and we need the community to step up and support helping us get the kids back and forth to school,” Twomey said.
In March, the school board voted to bring transportation services back in-house beginning July 1 after more than 30 years of outsourcing them.
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