CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education voted Tuesday night to increase the hourly rate for school bus drivers.
The new starting pay for drivers will be $17.75.
[ Looking for a job? CMS needs to fill nearly 3,000 positions ]
The bus driver shortage is an ongoing issue and it’s leading to delays for students -- and frustration for their families.
CMS created a recruitment task force in March, organizing job fairs, bus classes, and trying to recruit from other districts. In August, the district created a $1,000 bonus if drivers stayed for a set period of time.
There are currently 50 open driver positions, down from 80 in August.
Last month, CMS announced it would offer $15.75 an hour, but the district is now bumping that up again, to $17.75 an hour.
The district is asking the Board for $4.9 million to cover the increases.
CMS isn’t the only district having trouble hiring bus drivers. According to district officials, there are 1,300 bus driver vacancies across the state of North Carolina.
The vote to increase pay is the district’s effort to bring in and keep drivers.
“We are glad to have found a way to provide a more competitive pay scale for the employees who have the responsibility of taking children to and from school,” said Board Chair Elyse Dashew in a statement. “This new pay structure will make us more competitive with CATS and surrounding school districts and should alleviate the bus-driver shortage. Getting kids to school on time for a full day of learning is more important than ever.”
Chief Operating Officer Brian Schultz said that the change in salaries would be funded with transportation funds freed up by lower ridership and increased efficiencies in routes.
The Board also voted to continue the mandatory masking policy in schools and on buses. By order of the North Carolina General Assembly, the Board must reconsider the policy once each month.
Clover Schools face bus driver shortage despite pay raise
Clover Schools passed a 7.5% raise for school bus drivers, but they are still operating with about 20% fewer drivers.
That means long days for drivers like Barbara Phillips. She’s spent the last 26 years behind the wheel of a school bus.
“This is the lowest it’s ever been,” she said. “We always had drivers every year.”
>> Read more about the driver shortage in the Clover School District here.
(WATCH BELOW: Local school districts see shortages in bus drivers)
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