North Carolina Allocates $1 Million to Tackle School Bus Driver Shortage

North Carolina's Governor Roy Cooper has announced a $1 million investment to address the state's school bus driver shortage crisis by enhancing training capacity for drivers.

Why It Matters:

The shortage of school bus drivers in North Carolina is causing problems for school districts, impacting families, and affecting student well-being and learning. This investment aims to alleviate the issue and improve the reliability and safety of school transportation.

The Details:

• Governor Cooper has allocated $1 million in federal funding to the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to enhance school bus driver training capacity.

• The extended time it takes to train newly hired bus drivers due to staffing shortages and increased trainees is a primary challenge identified.

• Governor Cooper has proposed additional funding to employ more school bus driver trainers within the DMV and increase salaries for bus drivers and trainers.

• To expedite training, up to seven temporary trainers will be hired, and retention bonuses of up to $3,000 will be provided to current training employees.

• The investment will also be used to purchase two dedicated training buses, improving the overall training process.

Conclusion:

Governor Cooper's investment in addressing the school bus driver shortage aims to create a more robust and reliable public school transportation network for students in North Carolina. The funding comes from federal Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (EANS) funds.