Bus drivers still wanted for Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Willow Run schools
Bus drivers, often the first people students see in the morning as they begin their school day, are still needed for the Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Willow Run schools busing partnership.
Officials believe the shortage of applicants might be a slight sign of economic improvement in the Ann Arbor area.
Ann Arbor Public Schools, Willow Run Community Schools and Ypsilanti Public Schools continue to hire new bus drivers. (File photo)
The Washtenaw Intermediate School District, the countywide district in charge of the busing partnership, held a bus driver job fair last month and transportation director Tom Moore said about 30 people applied for positions.
That’s down from three times that number of applicants at bus driver job fairs held last year, something Moore attributes to an improving local economy.
"As the local economy has improved, some of our employees have found other positions that are more suited to their needs and have moved on," Moore said.
The partnership employs more than 200 people and Moore said the partnership experienced a normal amount of people leaving their jobs during the past year — about 10 to 20 people.
The unique nature of the bus driver position — described as a part-time, part-day job due to daily split shifts, a 20- to 30-hour week for 10 months of the year — will keep the partnership looking for new bus drivers constantly.
The exact number of bus drivers needed for the coming school year won’t be known until Aug. 30, when routes are assigned to drivers. Moore said the number of open routes left will be known after that, but school officials are always looking for more bus drivers.
Drivers work shifts from 6-9 a.m. with a break until 2-5 p.m. during the week. Starting pay for the positions is $13 per hour for 20 to 25 hours per week, with benefits such as medical insurance with co-pay, life insurance, vision insurance and long-term disability insurance.
Not only are there regular positions that need to be filled, but substitute drivers for absences, field trips and athletic trips are also needed, Moore said.
“We will always be interested in taking applications from highly-qualified candidates with good driving records who can safely transport our children,” Moore said.
The WISD came under fire by former bus drivers at numerous school board meetings since the consortium was formed in summer 2010. A Facebook group with 78 members was formed to support former bus drivers who were not hired back by the WISD before the 2010-11 school year.
The amount of money that the Ann Arbor, Willow Run and Ypsilanti schools actually saved in the 2010-11 school year is still unclear. Washtenaw Intermediate spokesperson Gerri Allen said earlier this summer that the number is expected to be available in late August.
If you're interested in applying for a job at the WISD as a bus driver, click here.
Click here to read a document about the process of becoming a bus driver.
Kyle Feldscher covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
jns131
Thu, Aug 18, 2011 : 5:05 p.m.
I did not know nor see that they are cutting noon runs. If they are I am not surprised by this. From what I am seeing and am now very convinced of what I am reading here and what I heard last year, WISD is going to run transportation into the ground and then turn it around for their own benefit. How? Under the Michigan state law? You don't have to transport anyone unless they are special needs. WISD is special needs. The board tried to completely remove hi school transportation last winter but reduced it by half. Not surprised here. I will not be surprised if they eliminate it completely by next year. This year gone is noon runs, after school and 7th hour hi school. They will probably send what they do not need to Willow Run and Ypsilanti this year and next year lay off the rest if not needed. I can see and am predicting by the end of next year, Ann Arbor will have half the bus staffing it did and does now. Last year they had 160 drivers, monitors and supervisors. They kept all of the supervisors. No surprise there. But kept half the monitors and then cherry picked the rest. So sad to see Ann Arbor making a mockery of what we drivers had done and did for so long and that was to protect someone elses like they were our own. I foresee a bus system in Ann Arbor that will be what WISD wants it to be. I wish these drivers all the best in the world. Because Ann Arbor is not the place to be as I am seeing right now.
James Hutson
Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 6:53 p.m.
The shortage of applicants proves an economic turn-around? Not really. The shortage of applicants shows that the 'partnership' that is in control of the WISD busing system is not interested in participating in the economic turnaround of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti or Willow Run but in keeping costs extremely low by not giving qualified and proved drivers an opportunity to serve their community in a job that is not glamourous, not high paying and yet is vital to the successful education of our students. They come up with excuses to dismiss those whom they feel might be a problem, might be motivated to find another job because of the work environment.....like dismissing a driver who was qualified to drive transit buses, lacked the simple endorsement for school bus (for lack of having a school bus to test in) and had a DUI over fifteen years ago. The excuse given was "You're Jeffrey Fiegel material...." Those who are qualified and have the ability and proven experience to drive these school buses safely and with unpaid exceptional service aren't being hired. Integrity, honor and ethics apparently have nothing to do with the WISD company who is operating the bus system for Ann Arbor School districts......many drivers have sought employment in other districts because of the work ethics of this company. No wonder why they are 'still looking for drivers.'
In doubt
Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 9:49 p.m.
This WISD thing is a total failure, that was proven when they had to get the retirees back and bring in Trinity. Eventually you will see these districts go back to having their own transportation departments. And who pays the price for that? The parents and students.......that's who. They lost many, many excellent drivers who cared for and protected the children to the highest degree.
In doubt
Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 9:45 p.m.
If they cut the noon runs and after school activities, they will be looking for alot more drivers. What are they thinking? You can't expect people to take on that much resposibility and stress have to have the certifications that they do, and pay them nothing. Needless to mention they have to tie up a full day to get four hours. They act like anyone looking for a part time job can drive a 40 foot vehicle with 60 children on it. ???? That seems to be the biggest, someone with really big wages isn't thinking.
jns131
Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 8:33 p.m.
And they never will. Once the last driver leaves? It will be Tom Moore who will be turning the lights out in that department. Then it is the ones who were cherry picked who will come back to drive a once honorable profession Ann Arbor made it out to be. I was told when I hired in Dearborn that Ann Arbor had a great reputation. Whew. Glad I was able to ride the coat tail on that one before WISD took over.
me
Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 10:31 a.m.
What is sad to me besides the fact that the pay sucks, is the fact that there were bus drivers who had to quit this job who actually cared for these kids. I worked for AAPS for 10 yrs., hired back with WISD, and gave it a go with the new company. My bus, which was the best bus, bus #94, was filled with love and respect. I love those kids, and always will. But I had to turn my two weeks in this year(because I was told they don't give leave of absences). I had a new baby this year,and couldn't afford the added daycare cost of a newborn. I figured I'd wait a year, and come back. But sadly this is the case with several people at the lot. Alot of the wonderful people I worked with were single parents needing to pay for daycare.How is anyone suppose to live on those wages?? And forget about being able to provide insurance for your family...the price was horrible, and the deductible for my plan was 4000 a year. Kinda alot when you're now only gonna be makin 20,000 if your lucky. Not to mention the fact that you leave your house at 5:30 or 6 in the am, and return at 6 or 6:30+ in the evenings. I did this for 11 years, loved it and will miss it . My hat goes off to the drivers who are gonna stick it out. There were to many cuts after going to WISD for anyone single to be able to live on, let alone a family. Hopefully things will change, and maybe eventually people will realize how much a driver is worth, and I can return to A2.
In doubt
Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 9:39 p.m.
From what was in the paper eariler this year, there will be NO noon runs. AM kindergarten will be picked up, but parents will have to transport home. Ditto in reverse for PM. and no after school activities busses. With no noon runs, those poor drivers will only get 4 hours a day and that drops their wages to nothing. Paying that deductable will be nearly half their yearly wage. It is such bull that they consider a job that important, that stressful and that responsible a part time job. I will tell you who needs to be part time.......THE ADMINISTRATORS!!!!!!
jns131
Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 8:29 p.m.
So they are not going to honor Family Medical Leave Act? O my, now that does suck. I think I know who you are and I wish you well. I know a few who did leave for another bus job or left the state for a better job. I knew we would loose a lot of great drivers. As I am telling people where I am now? Stay as far away from this group as possible. If Ann Arbor took us back? I would go as long as WISD went back to what it is suppose to do, take care of the special population.
In doubt
Tue, Aug 16, 2011 : 2:45 p.m.
Has anyone actually seen anything about a job fair eariler this summer? I haven't and know someone that lives out by the ISD that says they haven't seen a sign or anything. Why would they wait this late to hire drivers, especially when they need so many. There has been ONE position posted on the ISD's website all summer--------that is one driver position. When you count the retirees that went back last year and the Trinity drivers they had to get, that makes for alot of positions to fill. Could it be that they know good and well that they will never EVER get enough people to do that job for that amount of money and so few hours? This whole thing with the ISD taking over the Transportation departments has been a lose/lose all along.
jns131
Tue, Aug 16, 2011 : 5:20 p.m.
If you go to Ann Arbors public school web site you will see they will need fewer buses this year. Why? Because if you live within a 1.5 mile radius you are walking to school. Then there is the 5 mile radius pick up for hi school, middle and elementary. For the hi school you will go to the nearest elementary to get picked up. Otherwise they will have a common meeting area and the parents have to drop you off there. Same as Dexter and Chelsea. After school busing is cancelled so that means no more after school programs because most parents need it to get their children home. So after all it is said and done, I figure they are going to remove 40 or so buses and drivers from the runs. Then ship them to Willow Run and Ypsilanti where they can't get enough drivers to drive their runs, ending the need for Trinity. Doubt it, but it'll be interesting September 1 to see what they really do not need. As I see it, WISD and Ann Arbor Public have no clue how to run the transportation dept.
FaithInYpsi
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 9:27 p.m.
I am also not connected with WISD but what I know from my relative that once worked for them, they do not treat their employees in a respectful manner and bend their own policies to suit their needs. They basically fire them when they become ill and force them into retirement (because they had enough years in). They force them to take "family leave" when it is not needed and prevent them from returning back to work when they can. Then they die from the illness they were forced to retire from. It is a sad situation and seems to be no justice for the employees. Who holds them accountable...certainly not the union that the employees pay dues to.
FaithInYpsi
Tue, Aug 16, 2011 : 12:29 p.m.
Where did you get they were driving a bus? I said they worked for WISD.
L. C. Burgundy
Tue, Aug 16, 2011 : 4:03 a.m.
If they are dying from an illness...why are they driving a bus full of children...?
jns131
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 9:47 p.m.
Amen to this one. I saw it....a lot.
leaguebus
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 9:26 p.m.
Oh, thats right, as Michigan cuts education for business, school districts need to scrimp and save in any way possible. If they can't get drivers, will they have to raise the wages and benefits? No, there is no money, so they will likely move down the food chain for drivers. Sounds kinda dangerous for the kids?
jns131
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 9:47 p.m.
The custodians are next. They removed the food chain workers into privatization, then the drivers. The custodians are next. Sad to say it. Then who will really watch out for the children. Tom Moore? Your people really messed up last year.
djacks24
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 8:24 p.m.
"That's down from three times that number of applicants at bus driver job fairs held last year, something Moore attributes to an improving local economy. "As the local economy has improved, some of our employees have found other positions that are more suited to their needs and have moved on," Moore said." Translation: The economy is no quite bad enough for us to find folks desperate enough to take a job that doesn't pay a livable wage, but at the same time be completely underpaid and under-appreciated. Furthermore, drivers bear the weight of the world on their shoulders while maintaining composure over a bus full of out of control kids inside the bus and possibly worse, the adult morons operating their own vehicles all around outside the bus. In addition, it is hard to believe the economy is not quite bad enough for us to locate individuals who are willing to work part-time for 13 per hour but must sacrifice their entire day to work a few hours in the morning only to go home for a couple hours and then go back to work later, effectively wasting an entire day while working only part-time. Shocking that the economy has not reached that point, but at the rate we are going it's getting there.
marlean leach
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 6:02 p.m.
I was never lucky enough to drive a school bus with 4o students. My average load was more like 65 or more on the flat-nose types. In a 63 passanger bus you are allowed 10% standing in the isle. Not saying that it's the safest, but it's legal. You folks that bad-mouth the pay that bus-drivers make, should try it for one day and then we'll see what you have to say after that. Let's see how you like turning your back on a load of kids that are rude, disrespectful , hateful and destructive. They put-up with nasty foul language that at times are directed at them. They endure the ignorant drivers on the roads and folks that think a bus can stop on a dime. Do bus drivers make mistakes??? Darn right they do. But, they can also be an asset to your children. I took many a child back home to get his lunch money, dental retainer, homework or little sister. They have hearts the size of Chicago and nerves of steel. I challange you to sit incognito on a school bus with Jr High kids, you'll soon change your tune.
jns131
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 9:43 p.m.
You really change your tune when you drive Detroit children. I do and let me tell you, I learned a lot about myself. I need to leave after this year for full time work and to be in the area more. Otherwise, I will miss these children. They gave me cause to pause and a reason why I drive.
Juli Miettinen
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 5:30 p.m.
"Economic Recovery"? That's a joke. My neighbor was an A2 Bus Driver for years. Last year she had to get rehired at $5 less an hour and pay much, much more in health insurance with higher deductibles. She quit this year (not to get a better paying job) and got a part time job closer to home. These professionals are in charge of 40 kids at a time in a moving vehicle. YIKES! They have to watch the road and watch the kids--at the same time . They have more responsibility in their job than most other people have in theirs. There's no way I'd drive bus for $13 an hour. They need hazard pay.
amlive
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 3:57 p.m.
What? You mean we're having a hard time finding people to trust driving a huge bus full of riley kids during morning and afternoon rush hours, even though we're willing to pay them about $10k/year? I mean, it's a part time job, and I'm sure they can work other jobs from 10:00-1:00, then find seasonal work each summer when school's out to supplement their income. And qualified applicants aren't flocking in to get these jobs? Imagine that.
jns131
Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 8:24 p.m.
There is one thing I forgot. You have to have a clean driving record and criminal record. Otherwise, forget it. If Trinity is driving with criminals on board? Now that is scary. I'd like to see the person doing the hiring on that one.
L'chaim
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 3:15 p.m.
"The amount of money that the Ann Arbor, Willow Run and Ypsilanti schools actually saved in the 2010-11 school year is still unclear. Washtenaw Intermediate spokesperson Gerri Allen said earlier this summer that the number is expected to be available in late August." So, the WISD is gong to tell teh Districts how much they 'saved', as opposed to the Districts calculating it out, or better yet an independent investigation (by some intrepid journalists)? Oh, that';; be accurate, I'm sure! Not.
jns131
Tue, Aug 16, 2011 : 5:24 p.m.
I really don't see how they saved anything if they brought the retirees back at $22 a pop and they still have them because they couldn't get enough drivers to replace them. So, lets see if you are a regular? $16. Retired and rehired? $22. Sounds fishy to me and no real savings anywhere. Can't wait to see the figures.
In doubt
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 10:56 p.m.
Considering they had to get almost all the retirees back and then hire a sub contractor, I would say they didn't save squat. I would think they were so over budget it's unreal. ????
Kyle Feldscher
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 5:09 p.m.
Each individual school district will figure out their savings - or lack thereof, which ever the case may be - individually. Gerri Allen was just the person who told me when those numbers should be released. Thanks for reading.
marlean leach
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 2:52 p.m.
I retired from a school dist in the downriver area and they used Trinity for some of the events and shuttles. I could tell a host of horror stories about Trinity busing and the criminals that work for them.
xmo
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:37 p.m.
I liked the reporters comment: "sign of economic improvement in the Ann Arbor area." Really?
NewStart
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:03 p.m.
I regret the economy and short sighted management have pretty much brought local school bus transportation to its knees. $4000,00 deductible before insurance kicks in? What a joke! I retired from this 10 years ago before they really put the screws to people, in Ann Arbor.. .and I thought it was bad THEN.....the whole thing is just plain second class, sorry.
In doubt
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 10:54 p.m.
4,000.-----that is about half of their salary. Geesss....people just don't get it. It is hard to find bus drivers. Many people can't handle driving a vehicle that size, and the others can't handle the students. They should pay them extremely well for what they do, and consider how few people can actually handle that job.
L'chaim
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 3:18 p.m.
Don't apologize, you're right. THey've been trying to meke these jobs strictly for retirees (as opposed to 'career jobs', since you left (at least that long). Consolidation really helped them along.
dexterreader
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1 p.m.
You couldn't pay me enough to drive a school bus!!! Way too much responsibility for $13 an hour.
In doubt
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 10:48 p.m.
They have the childrens lives in their hands every minute they are working, and have the responsibility equal to a surgeon. They should make enough to carry mal-practice insurance. I personally know one that has been sued over a student being hit that was not the fault of the driver, but of the parent letting the child run loose around the bus on a day she wasn't going to school. So very sad.
In doubt
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 12:55 p.m.
I guess that administrators think it is lots of fun to take the equivilent of two class rooms and put them in a space that is about half the size of one class room, drive them down the road without taking their eyes off the road and yet be responsible for everything that goes on in the bus. It is not like bopping around town in your car with two children. What does the state tell us about taking our eyes off the road for three seconds? Try maintaining order of 60 students without looking at them or knowing what they are doing. Or the alternative to that would be to stay turned around to know what is going on in the bus, and putting the safety of yourself, the students, and the general public at risk. Taking into consideration how much time a year they do not get paid for, it would seem only fair that they make no less than city bus drivers with full benefits included.
In doubt
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 10:51 p.m.
marlean, I know a driver that was sued also, and not to blame for what happened. The district just settled and didn't even try to fight it. They should have fought it, the driver was definately within the limits of the law and it was actually the lack of parent responsibilty that caused it.
marlean leach
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 6:11 p.m.
My friend hauled a load of kids and made the large drop-off in local police station parking-lot. One of the students exited out the rear door only the sadly get hit by a car driven by an elderly man. the student was killed, the elderly man died on the spot from a heart attack. The driver ultimately was held responsible for the girl's death. Now how can that be??? She was sued for all she had by the family of the student and had no recourse. THAT MY FRIEND, IS WHAT BEING A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER IS ALL ABOUT.
In doubt
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 12:30 p.m.
The wage of $13.00 an hour has to be figured with the fact that they lose more than three months pay a year. Three months in summer, two weeks at Christmas and a week at Easter, along with the various days off and winter weekends, ect. If you take their wage for a basic year then divide that into 52 weeks a year, you will be shocked at what you get. School bus drivers have more responsibilty in a day than most people have in a year at work. A bad day at the office could cause work to be done over, a bad day at a store could cause a refund or ect. A bad day behind the wheel of a school bus could cost someone their life. They need to be perfect and there is no room for error. They are out there on the roads with the most important people in the schools, our children. Them and the support staffs in general have been cut to the core and it is less than part time jobs now, what the earn would be good foddor for comedy central.
Lac Court Orilles
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 11:31 a.m.
Before I comment, I want readers to know that I have never been a bus driver, not married to one, don't know one, not a teacher, not a vendor, not a union member, nor am I interested in becoming a bus driver. I'm just a tax payer; that's all. $13 an hour isn't even a "livable" wage! No wonder there aren't many applicants. With a past history of WISD's human resource director not hiring back experienced drivers, why would an experienced driver want to apply just to be rejected? Who was the person at WISD who made the prejudiced decision not to hire experienced drivers? I want to meet this person! An independent organization really needs to investigate WISD to see if there have been any real savings by firing all the former drivers who were employed by their former school systems. WISD was established to educate special education students, however, WISD sent the special education students back to their regular schools because they discovered they had to work hard. WISD is a "quiet" place with no children present and very few people there that provides "comfortable" careers for educators that can't make it in a regular school building. My question is, what is an educational institution that was invented to educate special education students getting into the transportation business for anyway ? ? ?
jns131
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 2:33 p.m.
Her name is Winnie. Head of HR. She was the one who after talking with Brad Mellor made the incredible decision who to hire and who not to hire. We were also forced to sign a piece of paper so they can go into our files and decide then even after making us go thru an interview process, they already knew who they were going to hire. I also heard that even during the orientation the the drivers and monitors go thru before school starts, they were plucking out drivers and monitors. 5 were removed during the orientation. I was not surprised after what they did to me. So there you go, a name. I was also told there a list.
jns131
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 10:58 a.m.
Here is what they are not telling you. You will pay $4000 deductible before the insurance kicks in. They hired all 2 years and under one year ago drivers and then cherry picked the rest after that. I was one of them. Then they pay you based on experience. O what they are not saying here? You will not go beyond $16 an hour after that. You will start at about $13. They hired part time drivers who retired and payed them $22 an hour. This was only temp. They are still there. I just heard they only got 30 apps for this coming year. WISD does not like unions and has tried to bust this one only to have it fail. The new union is teachers union. But they are having a rough go of it because no one knows who to trust. Trust you me, I am still in contact with what goes on there and I refuse to go thru another cherry picking contest with WISD. I really hope and pray Trinity takes over because WISD should never have gotten into this biz in the first place. Lincoln, Saline and a few others are a lot better to work at then what these three have to offer. Thanks for this article. My bee is buzzing.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 10:37 a.m.
From the article: "Officials believe the shortage of applicants might be a slight sign of economic improvement in the Ann Arbor area." Translation: we don't pay our bus drivers, with whom we entrust our children's lives, enough money to attracted 'em away from Wal Mart and MacDonald's. Good Night and Good Luck
jns131
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 11 a.m.
I was told Garden City pays upwards of $18 or more. Thank you Ghost. We don't pay our drivers enough and I am one of them who loves the job. Wish I could sell the house. Muskegon is looking.
McGiver
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 10:56 a.m.
You couldn't pay me enough to put up with the brats in school these days. Thank you but I'll keep my job at McDonalds.
A2comments
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 10:33 a.m.
patnership...?
jns131
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 11:03 a.m.
The partnership they are talking about is this. Tom Moore is in charge. If you want a job? You have to do what they tell you to do or there is no partnership and no union representation. They hold all the cards. That is the partnership they are talking about. Don't like it? Leave. I am happy where I am.