YORK (WGME) — Don’t forget to pack your lunch on Monday, as it’s the first day of school for many in Maine.
The York School District is among the schools welcoming students on Monday morning.
York’s school board says it is looking forward to the school year but is concerned about transportation issues.
“I think opening week of school is like opening day at Fenway Park. I think it’s exciting, there’s a certain excitement in the air. I think the kids are excited to be back and the teachers can’t wait to get started. It’s just a really nice time of year,” said York School Superintendent Tim Doak.
Doak said he was pleased with the number of applications the school received this summer and with being able to fill the new teaching positions.
But the demand for bus drivers remains high.
“Ledgemere really needs help with this, the York families depend on this transportation, the cooperation has been great, but the lack of drivers has really made us think differently about how we are going to transport the children,” said Doak.
Monique Tijerino, York’s operations manager, says the city needs at least nine bus drivers, but currently has only six.
“We really need the help. If you have young children who are not in school yet, you can bring them to work, you can bring them to work, you don’t have to take them to daycare,” Tijerino said.
The York School District and other schools in Maine fund local bus driver training – there are incentives here too.
“We offer a $3,000 sign-on bonus for people without a CDL license and $5,000 for people without a CDL license right from the start,” Tijerino said.
And she says it’s not just about the money, but also about the experience.
“They love what they do. For them, it’s not just about the paycheck, because they don’t need that. They do it because they want to do something, because they love kids,” Tijerino said.
If you would like more information on applying for a bus driving job, visit the Ledgemere Transportation website here.
